In the first four months of 2021, Spanish fruit and vegetable exports to third countries fell by 22.5% in volume and 24% in value compared to the same period in 2020. When seven years have passed since the Russian veto on imports of fruit and vegetables from the EU, the sectoral organization FEPEX uses these poor results to highlight the difficulty in consolidating new markets.
In 2013, before the veto, Spain directly exported fruit and vegetables worth 229.9 million euros to Russia. The volume was 231.4 million kilos, although the actual volume was considered much higher given the strong weight of re-exports mainly from the Netherlands, France and Poland.
According to FEPEX, no other third country destination has become an alternative to the Russian market. In fact, in the first four months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, Spanish fruit and vegetable exports to non-European countries fell by 22.5% in volume and 24% in value.
Progress in opening new markets for fruits and vegetables
The Fruit and Vegetable Working Group continues making some progress in opening new markets. Now, work is being done to open the Canadian market for cherries, blueberries and tomatoes, and in January, the opening of the market for strawberries was achieved. With the USA, negotiations are underway to open the market for cherries, nectarines and plums, pears and apples, and strawberry plants.
As far as Asia is concerned, negotiations with Thailand are well advanced for pears and grapes. In addition, the authorization of air shipments of cherries is also being worked on with this country.
Source: Agroberichtenbuitenland
