Extremadura growers account for almost all the national fruit exports to China. Last year, the first in which Spain's fruit has been allowed into the Asian giant's market, 840 tonnes of Spanish fruit landed in Chinese territory. Of that volume, 820 tonnes (97.6%) were produced in Extremadura, mostly plums. The region is the largest producer of plums, not only in Spain, but also in Europe. Each year, it harvests about 100,000 tonnes.
It took six years of negotiations between the European Union and the Spanish and Chinese governments to agree on a protocol that was introduced last year. In fact, exports have only been possible for half a year, since sales couldn't start until 23 July. A container with fruit supplied by the Extremadura company, Campo y Tierra del Jerte, was the first one to hit the Chinese market.
This container carried 20 tonnes of Primetime plums (black skin and red flesh) and arrived in late August, having departed from the port of Algeciras earlier that month.
Campo y Tierra, a family-owned company based in Malpartida de Plasencia, has been one of the ten Extremadura-based firms that have managed to ship plums to that country. Initially, twenty-two had signed up for it.
Although it is difficult to come up with a specific figure, the Association of Fruit Growers of Extremadura (Afruex) has estimated the value of the exports to Chinese territory at over 1 million Euro. "The signature of this protocol has been a long and difficult process; that is why now, with it finally in place, there is a feeling of satisfaction, of restrained satisfaction," points out the manager of Afruex, Miguel Ángel Gómez.
He believes that exporting 820 tonnes to China, in the first year in which it was possible, is quite good; better than initially expected, although he concludes that there is plenty of room for improvement.
Strengths and obstacles
The first contact with the Asian market, focused exclusively on plums, has served as a test before the export of other fruits in this campaign. "We have the opportunity to continue growing in a market with great potential for Extremadura's fruit," says Gómez, not only because of its large number of inhabitants, but also for the growth of its middle and upper classes.
The main obstacle for Extremadura's fruit is that it takes almost a month to reach the port of Shanghai, China's most populous city and centre for food distribution. This makes it compulsory to use refrigeration systems so that the plums can arrive in perfect condition.
Moreover, shipments to China are usually made by boat from the ports of Algeciras or Valencia, and Extremadura's fruit usually arrives there by road. "A more modern and faster rail network would make things easier," states the manager of Afruex.
"We have managed to enter the Chinese market, but now there is another challenge for Extremadura's fruit growers, which is to improve both the transport of the product and the harvest and post-harvest processes," explains Miguel Ángel Gómez.
He stresses that Extremadura's fruit has a reputation for quality in the markets and that the region's companies are specialists in exporting. Plums and cherries are two particularly important crops. "We are leaders in both production and quality," he emphasises.
Official statistics reveal that 75% of the fruit that was produced in Extremadura last season was exported during the same year. This means that exports increased by approximately five percent compared to the previous year. Moreover, it should be noted that 35% of Extremadura's total exports in 2016 went to non-EU countries. The opening of the Chinese market explains this partly, but most of the sales to non-EU destinations went to Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, India and South Africa.
Plums continue to account for the largest volumes shipped. A major market is the UK, where some uncertainties may arise because of the Brexit, although producers in Extremadura believe that the quality and penetration of Extremadura's plums will allow them to overcome the future customs barriers of the United Kingdom.
The relevance of the stonefruit sector in Extremadura is summed up in a few figures. Although the acreage is not that great (about 25,000 hectares), 80% of all agricultural labour in the region is generated by activities like the pruning, thinning or harvesting of the fruit. In this sense, the sector pays 6 million wages and facilitates the signing of 50,000 contracts (administrative tasks aside).
Source: hoy.es