The melon and watermelon producers linked to Proexport are obtaining very good quality fruit at the start of the 2020 campaign. After the rains of the past months, which made it impossible for transplants to be carried out regularly, and the lack of hours of sunshine, the early melon productions will have smaller calibers than those that we usually offer,” says the president of the Melon and Watermelon Sector Committee from Proexport, Laureano Montesinos.
In the current melon campaign, the Region of Murcia's acreage will be very similar to that of 2019 (approximately 5,600 hectares), while the area devoted to watermelon production will be slightly smaller than last year (about 2,900 hectares).
In recent weeks, high temperatures have finally allowed the fruits to develop, and Murcia's producers have been able to guarantee the supply to their customers. To this end, they have made a significant effort to maintain their activity in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main destinations
According to Proexport forecasts, 42% of the melons that will be exported this year correspond to the Galia variety, while 30% will be Yellow, 17% Cantaloupe and 6% Charentais. The latter is exported almost entirely to France and Belgium. For its part, the Piel de Sapo melon, the favorite in the domestic market, only accounts for 5% of the exports.
A significant part of Murcia's melon and watermelon production is intended for export. In 2019, melon exports amounted to 252,298 tons worth 179 million Euro. The Region of Murcia accounts for 56.6% of Spain's total melon exports.
France is the most important market for Spanish melons, with 28% of last season's exports (70,922 tons). It is followed by Germany, with 24% of Murcia's exports (59,384 tons), and the United Kingdom, with 18% (46,579 tons).
As for watermelons, its exports in the previous campaign stood at 179,319 tons worth around 77 million Euro. The most important destination was Germany, with 60,200 tons (33.5% of the total), followed by the United Kingdom with 35,918 tons (20%) and France, with 22,978 tons (13%) exported in 2019.
For more information:
Proexport
Ronda Levante, 1 Entlo., 30008 Murcia, Spain
Tel.: +34 968 27 17 79
Fax: +34 968 20 00 98
proexport@proexport.es
www.proexport.es