The Spanish export of fresh fruits and vegetables to non-European countries has been reduced by 11% in terms of volume and by 13% in terms of value compared to the same period of 2017, totaling 376,677 tons and 401.8 million Euro, according to the latest data reported by the General Directorate of Customs and Special Taxes. Achieving a greater diversification of exports to countries outside Europe is considered one of the pending challenges for the sector in 2019, according to FEPEX.
The reduction of shipments to non-European destinations has been due, to a large extent, to the decline in countries that usually yield positive results, as is the case of Brazil, the main destination market for the sector in the Americas. Between January and October 2018, Spain exported 30% less in terms of volume and value to this destination, totaling 55,480 tons and 55.4 million Euro. The same has happened in the main destinations for Spanish exports in Asia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where shipments have been reduced by 16% in terms of volume and by 12% in terms of value in the case of Saudi Arabia, with 38,830 tons and 41.3 million Euro, and by 27% in terms of volume and 19% in terms of value in the case of the UAE, with 35,329 tonnes and 40.3 million Euro.
On the opposite side, fruit and vegetable exports to Canada have registered strong growth, with 48,539 tons (+45%) and 55.5 million Euro (+39%).
Up until October 2018, the Spanish export of fresh fruits and vegetables stood at 9.8 million tons; 1% less than in the same months of 2017. The value of those shipments reached 10,346 million Euro (+1%). The EU received 94% of the total, with 9.2 million tons (-1%) worth 9,646 million Euro (+2%). Exports outside the EU stood at 596,591 tonnes (-5%) worth 700 million Euro (-5%). Of these, 220,284 tonnes and 298.6 million Euro corresponded to non-EU European countries, such as Switzerland and Norway, and 376,677 tonnes and 401.8 million Euro to countries outside the European continent.
