Spanish fresh fruit and vegetable exports to non-European countries grew by 15% in value from January to October 2016 compared to the same period of the previous year, totalling 455 million Euro, which represented 4.5% of the sector's total sales abroad, according to data from the Department of Customs and Special Taxes of the Spanish Tax Agency, processed by FEPEX.
The share of Spanish exports to non-European countries increased by 0.4% in the period under review, although the volume fell slightly, standing at 4% of the total, with a total of 394,574 tonnes.
Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the main destinations in this group of countries. Shipments to Brazil from January to October 2016 totalled 91.9 million Euro, up 23%, while the volume decreased by 18%, totalling 79,834 tonnes. Shipments to Saudi Arabia grew by 10% in value and 13% in volume, standing at 39 million Euro and 36,692 tonnes, while those to the United Arab Emirates increased by 3% in value and 2% in volume, standing at 54.5 million Euro and 50,124 tonnes.
Canada is another major destination for Spanish fruit and vegetables in this group of countries, with 33.7 million Euro, the same value as in the previous period, and 24,460 tonnes (-20%).
Meanwhile, the development of sales in China reflects the opening of this market to other products, with 14.3 million Euro (+358%) and 12,682 tonnes (+308%).
For FEPEX, the diversification of sales abroad is one of the strategic challenges for the fresh fruit and vegetables sector. For this reason, one of the measures to be undertaken in 2017 is to boost the assistance of third country importers to the international fair FRUIT ATTRACTION, which, organised together with IFEMA, will hold its ninth edition from 18 to 20 October.
Source: fepex.es
