Spain's extreme weather conditions have affected that country's fruit and vegetable exports. In this year's first half, exports fell by eight percent. The whole of last year's exports were also lower than in previous years. If the first six months of 2023's trend continues, this year, there will be almost 20% fewer exports than in the record 2019 year.
In absolute terms, that is about 2.5 million tons. The smaller supply caused sharp price increases by as much as 16%. That led to export values rising to record levels. In the first half of the year, Spain exported nearly €10 billion worth of fruit and vegetables.
Import rise sharply
On the other hand, Spain's fruit and vegetable imports have risen sharply. At 1.55 million tons, that was 14% more than last year's first half. In 2022, Spain already imported a record amount, and that will increase considerably this year. Import prices were also higher, raising the value of imports by as much as 20% compared to the first half of last year.
A quarter fewer oranges and mandarins
Spanish orange and mandarin exports were particularly affected, which fell by a quarter. Spain exported 15% fewer bell peppers and eight percent fewer tomatoes. The country exported more watermelons than last year, but those were minimal in 2022. Exports of other major products did not drop as much, but eight, nine, and eleven percent minuses for tomato, lemon, and strawberry exports are quite substantial.
In 2023, for the first time, a distinction was made between flat and other peaches. In the first half of this year, 54,000 tons of flat peaches and 42,000 tons of other peaches were exported. Since last year, cauliflower and broccoli exports have been recorded separately. Spain exports far more cauliflower than broccoli. In this year's first half, that was 261,000 and 14,000 tons, respectively.
Good exports to Germany
By country, exports to the leading buyer, Germany, were good, declining by only two percent. Exports to the second largest buyer, France, decreased by 8%. Exports to the United Kingdom were ten percent down and to the Netherlands, nine percent. Exports to neighboring Portugal were quite good compared to last year, but exports to that country were small then. There are fewer countries with plusses than last year.
More imports of especially oranges
Spain imported more of all the major products in the first half of 2023 than before. Banana imports rose by ten percent, and those of major products like apples and avocados increased by 22 and 42%, respectively. Spain's orange import growth dwarfs these plusses. These imports were often limited in the first half of the year.
This year, however, as many as 115,000 tons of oranges were imported during that time. Almost as much as the whole of 2022, and most came from Egypt - almost 90,000 tons. More also came in via the Netherlands, 11,600 tons versus 2,300 tons in the first half of last year.
Mostly from Morocco, but a quarter less
Eurostat figures supplied by the Spanish Bureau of Statistics show that Morocco is that country's leading fruit and vegetable supplier. For 2022, that amounted to a record 530,00 tons. Eurostat shows that, in the first half of this year, imports from that country were a quarter less than over the same time last year in the same months. According to Eurostat, France imports far more Moroccan produce. Those imports were almost the same as last year.
Click here to see the background figures.
For more information:
Jan Kees Boon
Fruit and Vegetable Facts
Website: www.fruitandvegetablefacts.com
Email: [email protected]
