Spain: A growing amount of imported fruit and vegetables

Spanish imports of fruit and vegetables in April 2012 was of 222,089 tons, some 7.5% more than in the same month of 2011, while the value dropped 15% to 122.4 million Euro, due to a drop in the value of the main imported products in that month, mainly potato and onion. This is based on data by the Department of Border Control and Special Taxes from the Taxes Agency and processed by FEPEX.

Imports of vegetables grew 20% in April, regarding April 2011, with a total of 127,993 tons. The value also dropped, this time 18%, adding up to 43.2 million Euro. The average price, Euro/kilo of the imported vegetables dropped 31%.

Main imported vegetables by Spain: potato and onion, registered a rise in amounts but a strong drop in value. Import of potato was of 89,407 tons (+19%) by 13.1 million Euro (-49%) and onion 12,259 tons (+41%) for 3.1 million Euro ('20%)

Imports of fruit during April dropped 5% in volume, adding up to 101,096 tons and 14% in value, dropping to 79.2 million Euro. The average price, Euro/kilo of imported fruits by Spain dropped 10%. The main imported fruit in Spain is the apple with 24,125 tons (+2%) by 19 million Euro (-3%).

In the January-April cumulative, Spanish imports of fruits and vegetables was 835,190 tons (+2%) and 460 million Euro (-16%). Despite imported amounts growing a bit, the value registered a strong drop, specially for vegetables (-30%) and within vegetables the highlight goes to the potato drop, as in the first four months of the year, it dropped 54%, to be around 55 million Euro, with quite negative consequences on the national production of potato, according to FEPEX.

Source: Fepex