In 2016, the Spanish import of fresh fruit and vegetables grew by 17% in terms of value compared to the previous year, amounting to 2,313 million Euro, and by 12% in terms of volume, totalling 2.8 million tonnes, according to data from the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, processed by FEPEX, made public this week.
Fruit imports stood at 1.6 million tonnes (+16%) and were worth 1,576 million Euro (+18%), with almost all imported fruits recording growth. Worthy of note is the rise in the import of apples, of 10% in volume and 7% in value, totalling 223,038 tonnes and 161.5 million Euro, as well as those of kiwis, with 161,795 tonnes (+9%) and 151 million Euro (-3%) and pineapples, with 151,792 tonnes (+5.7%) worth 112.7 million Euro (+7.5%).
Vegetable imports totalled 1.2 million tonnes (+7%) worth 737 million Euro (+16%), with potatoes, with 728,936 tonnes (+7%) and 229 million Euro (+41%), and green beans, with 137,557 tonnes (+27%) and 147 million Euro (+7.5%), as the most imported vegetables.
As regards the suppliers, it is worth noting the strong growth of Moroccan imports, which now total 291,000 tonnes (+20%) worth 413 million Euro (+23%). Morocco consolidates as Spain's largest fruit and vegetable supplier, followed by France, with 315 million Euro. Imports from the EU grew by 10% in value, amounting to € 892 million, and stood at 1,649,000 tonnes (+7%), with a notable increase in the Netherlands, with € 142 million (+25%) and 199,663 tonnes (+34%).
In 2016, imports grew in all months except in December, when they dropped by 4% in volume and 1% in value. Imports are distributed evenly throughout the year, with volumes exceeding 200,000 tonnes every month, except in July, when 191,057 tonnes were imported.
For FEPEX, the behaviour of imports, which are maintaining a growing trend in recent years, is a result, on the one hand, of the greater competitiveness of countries with production schedules overlapping with the Spanish production and, on the other, of the development of domestic demand.
Source: fepex.es
