Spain, the world's main exporter of fresh fruits and vegetables

As far as amounts are concerned Spain is the top fresh fruit exporters, with a volume of 7.2 million tonnes last year. In fresh vegetables Spain is third on the list, after Mexico and China (both 4.8 million tonnes) with an export of 4.4 million tonnes. Just ahead of the Netherlands with a (re)export of 4.3 million tonnes.

11.6 million tonnes with a value of 10.6 billion Euro

The amount of fresh fruits and vegetables traded internationally is still increasing. To around 110 million tonnes last year. Ten years ago this was still 80 million tonnes. The share of Spain was 11% in 2004, decreasing over the next few years to under 10% but then rising back to 11%.

The global trade in fresh fruit has grown from 55 to 75 million tonnes in ten years. The share of Spain in this was in 10% in 2004, dropping and rising back to 11% after this.

Ten years ago 25 million tonnes of fresh vegetables were traded internationally. last year this had increased to 35 million tonnes. Ten years ago Spain had a share of 14%. This ten decreased and now fluctuates around 12%.

11.6 million tonnes this year

The Spanish export of fresh fruit and vegetables which was at a reasonably stable level until 2010, has seen a few percent's growth every year since then. In the first seven months of this year this growth (+3%) continued. Due to the drop out of the Russian market the export in the second half of the year will probably not grow. This year the total export will be around 11.5 million tonnes, of which 3.7 million tonnes citrus, 3.0 million tonnes of other fresh fruit and 4.8 million tonnes of fresh vegetables.

If we dissect the figures, what stands out is the steady growth of the export of fresh fruit, which differs from that of citrus. Apart from a few years in which that export remained stable, it grew from under 2 million tonnes ten years ago, to over 3 million tonnes. The export of citrus fruit fluctuated around 3.5 million tonnes, then growing to 4 million tonnes in 2011 and 2012. In 2013 the Spanish citrus export was stable and in the first seven months of this year, less citrus fruit was exported.

The export of Spanish vegetables was also reasonably stable until 2010, at a level of 3.5 million tonnes. With a small faltering in 2012 this will most likely grow to 4.8 million tonnes this year.

Almost a quarter to Germany

The Spanish export of fresh vegetables and fruit is mainly focussed on EU countries, with Germany as the main buyer. Last year 22% of the total Spanish export went to Germany, and vice versa the share of Spanish product on the German market was around 30%.

Of the total French import was even 40% Spanish, and the import of neighbouring country Portugal was more than half Spanish. 25% of the English import came from Spain, and 20% of the import in the Netherlands was Spanish produce. In countries like Italy, Poland and Switzerland the Spaniards supplied around 30% of the total import. Spain only had a share of 5% on the important Russian market, but including the trade through other countries this was 400 to 450,000 tonnes of Spanish product.

The growth of the Spanish export over the last 10 years is partially (1/6) realised in Russia. The Spanish export statistics indicate a growth of 150% in Russia over ten years, but a lot of Spanish product also ends up on the market through Lithuania and Poland.

Other buyers with an above average growth were Italy (+46%), Denmark (+5%) and the Czech Republic (+43%). The growth to Germany (+25%) was reasonably average compared to the total (+8%). Large buyers for whom growth was clearly lacking were: England (+7%), France (+17%), the Netherlands (+13%) and Belgium (+6%).

Citrus worth a third of the total

Citrus, with over a third of the total, is the foundation upon which the Spanish export rests. Oranges are the main product with Clementines coming in second. The export of both these products has grown over the last ten years, but the growth is clearly below average.

This is even more so for the export of the third large product, tomatoes. The export of these have even decreased slightly. This decrease has accelerated in the first seven months of this year. The export of peppers and cucumbers (the 4th and 5th export products), on the other hand, did grow above average. In the first half of this year the export of these two products went well.

The biggest growth in export was from nectarines (+189%) and peaches (+159%). Other above average growers were: watermelons (+76%), lettuces other than head lettuce (+48%), Wilkings mandarins (+128%), grapes (+46%), aubergines (+89%), garlic (+55%), and plums (+45%).

Besides tomatoes there were a number of other product whose export development was lacking compared to the average growth. Examples of this are: lemons (+1%), melons (+5%), pears (+1%), carrots (+10%).