In the first two months of the year, Spanish fruit and vegetable imports totaled 514.5 million euro, 344.5 million euro of which came from non-EU countries, according to data from the Customs and Excise Department. This figure is equivalent to 67% of the value of all imports between January and February 2021.
Morocco continues to be Spain's leading supplier with 172.4 million euro, i.e. 33.5% of the total value and 50% of the value corresponding to purchases from non-EU countries. This figure remained stable when compared to the same period of 2020.
The volume imported amounted to 92,775 tons, i.e. the same amount as in the previous period.
According to Fepex, despite having stabilized in January and February (the last for which there are official data are available from the Department of Customs and Special Taxes), imports from Morocco are constantly increasing. In fact, in the last five years, imports from Morocco in January and February have increased by 26% in value, going from 136 million euro in 2017 to 172 million euro this year, and by 39% in volume, going from 66,641 tons to 92,775 tons.
These are imports that, as in the case of tomatoes, many times enter the Community market with low prices, forcing prices down. This harms Community producers, especially from Spain, as Spanish productions and calendars coincide with Morocco. That's why Fepex reiterated that the cooperation and safeguard clauses contained in articles 4 and 7 of Protocol I of the Association Agreement between the EU and Morocco, which aim at correcting market disturbances, had to be activated in times of market crisis.
Source: fepex.es