According to a Report on the Fruit and Vegetable Sector prepared by IES Consultores, Argentina's main fruits production (85% of the total) in 2018/19 remained at the average level of the last five years, with an estimated harvest of 4.7 million tons.
Fruit and vegetable sales in the Central Market of Buenos Aires had uneven patterns during the first nine months of 2019, as fruit sales increased by 11.5% in volume, totaling 368,100 tons, and vegetable sales decreased by 4.5% over the same period of 2018 and amounted to 607,000 tons.
In that period, fruit and vegetable exports totaled 962 million dollars, i.e. 16.2% less than in the same period of 2018. Meanwhile, the volume shipped amounted to 1,412,000 tons, i.e. 3.6% more than in the same period of 2018.
Between January and September 2019, fruit and vegetable imports amounted to 188 million dollars and 370,000 tons, i.e. 16.3% and 7.2% less in value and volume than in the previous year, respectively. The main destination for fresh fruit exports, in value, in 2019 was Russia with 20.9% of the total. It was followed by Brazil with 16.7%, the United States with 14.6%, and Spain with 7.8%.
The main destinations for vegetables and legumes, in value, were Brazil with 50.3%. Followed by Spain, with 6.7% of the total.
"The sector must update its technological level and develop the cultivation of new varieties that are more in demand, which will allow it to conquer new external markets," said Alejandro Ovando, the director of IES Consultores.
Source: andina.pe
