Spain officially joined the European Economic Community (EEC) on 1 January 1986 after signing the Accession Treaty on 12 June 1985. In that first year of membership, Spain exported 4.9 million tons of fruit and vegetables to other countries in the economic bloc for 1,764 million euros. The evolution of exports was positive in the first years after accession. However, the Treaty of Spain's Accession to the EC imposed tariff measures to protect the Community market, which discriminated against Spain's fruit and vegetable sector. The Spanish fruit and vegetable sector had to deal with a four-year transition period, which practically maintained the strict conditions that fruit and vegetable exports had to meet before integration, and implied, among other things, the payment of tariff duties. Trade barriers were gradually dismantled, until the single market ended this type of restriction in 1993.
Fepex was founded in 1987, precisely in this transitional period. It was formed by five associations, mainly from the tomato export sector, to help absorb the negative effects of the import duties.
With the single market, in 1993, all the tariff barriers and physical controls in customs that had existed until then for Spanish exports disappeared. The EU's internal borders also disappeared, and the market expanded, leading to a long period of growth.
In 1993, Spain exported 6.1 million tons of fruits and vegetables to other EU countries. A year later, this volume increased to 6.7 million tons (+10%), and in 1995 it reached 7.1 million tons (+5%). Since then, exports have grown steadily. Over the past ten years, the volume has remained fairly stable, with slight fluctuations, indicating a well-established market. Volumes have stabilised, standing at 13.3 million tons in 2014 and 13.5 million tons in 2024.
Accession to the EU, and especially the arrival of the internal market, was a turning point for the Spanish fresh produce sector. The EU is still its most important sales market, accounting for 84% of total exports. However, the sector is currently under pressure from international developments over which growers have little control, such as trade agreements with third countries and the EU's trade policy, which has favored the growth of imports.
For more information: www.fepex.es