Spanish exports of fresh fruit and vegetables in the month of September increased by 23% in volume, 562,318 tonnes, and 28% in value, 464 million Euro compared to the same month last year. The export volume of vegetables grew by 29%, with a total of 197,467 tonnes and 32% in value, 148 million Euro. Fruit exports increased 19.5% in volume and 27% by value, 364,851 tonnes and 317 million respectively, according to data from the Department of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Economy processed by FEPEX.
Exports of fresh fruit and vegetables between January and September 2013 increased by 6% in volume and 14% in value when compared to the same period of 2012; a total of 8.3 million tonnes and 7.677 million Euro.
Vegetable exports in the first three quarters of 2013 increased by 10% in volume and 16% in value over the same period last year and amounted to 3.2 million tonnes and 3.121 million Euro. Tomato export amounted to 731,795 tonnes (+12%), lettuce, 471,472 tonnes (+3%), pepper, 378,606 tonnes (+9%) and cucumber, 296,781 tonnes (+10%).
Fruit exports grew by 4% in volume and 13% in value, 5 million tonnes and 4.555 million Euro. The most important exports by volume, after citrus, were of watermelon, 519,828 tonnes (+7%), nectarine, with 376,984 tonnes (+15 %), peach, 315,088 tonnes (+20%) and strawberry, which decreased up to 6%, 263,613 tonnes.
The main exporting regions were Valencia, Andalusia and Murcia, which recorded increases in both volume and value. Valencia exported 2.7 million tonnes (+5%) worth 2,272 million Euro (+15 %), Andalucía, 2.4 million tonnes (+7%) worth 2,692 million Euro (+10%) and Murcia, 1.7 million tonnes (+8 %) for a total of 1,601 million Euro (+24%). Catalonia's growth, 5% in volume and 7% in value, is also worth noting with volumes for 707,685 tonnes and 565 million Euro.
The EU is the main destination for Spanish exports of fresh fruit and vegetables, with 92% of total exports. Within the EU, Germany is the largest market with 24% of total exports, followed by France with 19% and the United Kingdom with 13%. Spanish exports to Germany amounted to 1.842 million Euro, 19% more than the previous year, to France they totalled 1,458 million Euro (+10%) and to the United Kingdom, 980 million Euro (+12%). Exports to third countries amounted to 624.3 million Euro, an 11% increase, less than the 14% increase that there was in exports to the EU in the same period.
Spanish imports of fruit and vegetables in the first three quarters of 2013 amounted to 1.7 million tonnes (+1%) worth 1,249 million Euro (+21%). Fruit imports amounted to 927,833 tonnes (+3%) worth 843 million Euro (+17 %) while imports of vegetable totalled 796,410 tonnes (-1.5 %) at 406.5 million Euro (+27%), according to the Department of Customs and Excise Tax under the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.
For FEPEX, the strong increase in exports in September was due, in large, to that month's good weather conditions, which led to a strong supply growth of almost all products. This situation continued in October in all producing countries of the European Union, which has created a serious imbalance between supply and demand of a significant group of products.