In 2013, Almeria's tomato exports to the Russian market reached a value of 6.7 million Euro, while the region's cucumber shipments were worth 3.6 million.
Last year, the Spanish province of Almeria sold food products to Russia valued at 14.7 million Euro; 42.5% more than in 2012. Nearly half of this turnover (6.7 million Euro) corresponded to tomatoes. Between January and May 2014, the share of tomatoes in the region's total horticultural exports has increased and accounts for 66% of the total, with 5.4 million Euro.
As a result, tomatoes will be the most affected by the veto from Moscow to import fruit and vegetables from European countries, according to the territorial delegate of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, José Manuel Ortiz, who highlighted the upward trend which this vegetable has shown in the Eastern European country. While sales in 2011 amounted to 1.9 million Euro, in 2012 this figure reached 4.2 million; in 2013, it grew to 6.7 million, and in the first five months of 2014 it had already registered 5.4 million, according to the latest data from Icex.
In 2013, the second most important vegetable for Almeria in the Russian market were cucumbers, with a turnover of 3.6 million Euro, followed by aubergines, with 884,000 Euro, and peppers, with 829.000 Euro.
In 2013, in terms of turnover, the province of Almeria was the seventh largest horticultural exporter in Spain, with a domestic market share of 4.7%. These statistics do not reflect the shipments made by Almeria's horticultural sector from other provinces, which explains why the number one exporter of vegetables is Alicante, followed by Valencia and Madrid.
In 2011, Almeria's share had been of 2.4%; in 2012 it reached 3.1%, and in the first five months of this year it has increased to 6%; evidence that, with every campaign, Almeria's horticultural products keep gaining ground among Russian consumers.
In 2013, Andalusia exported food products to Russia valued at 74.7 million Euro and so far in 2014 (latest data for the month of May) the total value has reached 37.5 million Euro, according to data from the Andalusian Foreign Trade Promotion Agency Extenda, under the Council of Economy, Innovation, Science and Employment.
Source: almeria24h.com
