Spain: Crisis means more exports for smaller prices
During the first three months, the economic crisis pushed fruit and vegetables companies to go abroad in order to be more competitive, which was translated in a rise in the exported production by 42.6%, regarding the same period of 2011, before a drop in sales due to the "E.coli" problem could arise. This exported amount reached 27,949 tons, translated as 5.6 million Euro, which indicates a 16.5% drop, due mainly to a drop in the price of some products, according to data given by Ical to the Spanish Federation of Associations of Fruit, Vegetables and Live Plants Producers and Exporters (Fepex).
So, while Castilla y León had an increase in the exported productions, Spain in general continued to be stable, at 3.3 million tons, sustained mainly by the East part of the country, Catalonia and Andalucia. Although, the value for fruit and vegetables sold abroad by the country had a slight rise of 4.8%, up to 2,949 million Euro.
This is the argument about the drop in potato prices. Castilla y León exported 75% of the whole total in the Community, with 20,715 tons. In fact, there's something curious: While in the first three months of 2011 the region earned 4.1 million Euro by selling 14,360 tons. A year later there's a turn. A bigger amount is exported - 20,715 tons, but for a smaller value - almost half, 2.3 million Euro, showing the volatility of potato prices.
Source: Salamanca24horas.com