Malta: Fruit and veg volumes up, wholesale value down
The volume of fresh vegetables advanced by 21.0 per cent to 9.7 million kilogrammes over the comparative quarter in 2012. Increases were registered in the supply of Cauliflowers (+57.9 per cent), Cabbages (+38.2 per cent), Vegetable marrows (+35.2 per cent) and Lettuce (+31.0 per cent). In contrast, the wholesale value of fresh vegetables declined by 14.2 per cent to €4.4 million.
The supply of fresh fruit dipped by 11.9 per cent, mainly due to Sweet oranges (-35.2 per cent) and Oranges (-34.4 per cent). On the other hand, an increase of 10.8 per cent was registered in the wholesale value of fresh fruit over the comparative period in 2012.
The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables supplied by Maltese farmers increased by 20.1 per cent over the corresponding quarter in 2012. Maltese farmers supplied 9.3 million kilogrammes of fresh fruit and vegetables, or 92.7 per cent of the total supply. The wholesale value of fresh fruit and vegetables went down by 12.7 per cent, from €5.1 million to €4.5 million.
Gozitan farmers contributed 0.7 million kilogrammes of fresh fruit and vegetables, or 7.3 per cent of the total supply. The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables rose by 12.3 per cent, whereas the wholesale value declined by 1.9 per cent over the comparative quarter in 2012.
The quarterly 'All Items' fresh fruit price index rose by 33.34 points (+24.6 per cent) to 168.80 points. In contrast, the fresh fruit volume index decreased by 6.69 points (-11.2 per cent) to 52.85 points.
The quarterly 'All Items' fresh vegetables price index went down by 45.79 points (-30.1 per cent) to 106.25 points. On the other hand, the fresh vegetables volume index increased by 16.38 points (+21.0 per cent) to 94.42 points in the first quarter this year.
Source: maltatoday.com.mt
