Portuguese agro-food exports grew by 20 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the corresponding period of 2016, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture in Lisbon last week.
The best month in the first quarter in terms of export dynamics of agro-food commodities was March, when a 28% increase was recorded compared to the same month in 2016. "Such good data has pleased us, and at the same time, we have been surprised by the growing contribution of our small businesses to exports," stated Minister of Agriculture Luis Capoulas Santos.
The Minister pointed out that, last year, one of the most dynamically growing export segments was that of berries. In 2016, the value of exports in this category increased to €117 million; up 24% compared to 2015. Santos revealed that, in 2016, Portugal managed to eneter 20 new markets with more than 60 items, both of vegetable and animal origin.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, last year the total value of Portuguese agro-food product exports amounted to €5.15 billion, more than €400 million more than in 2015.
Economist Ana Silva said that the significant growth of Portuguese agro-food product exports is due, among other factors, to the intensive marketing work on foreign markets. "The country's institutions have significantly intensified their efforts in foreign markets in recent years to find new destinations for the Portuguese agro-food supply, not only in Europe, but also in Asia and the Americas," assured Silva.
Source: rp.pl
