Spanish fresh fruit and vegetable exports between January and April 2023 decreased by 11% over the same period of the previous year, totaling 4.1 million tons. Meanwhile, imports increased by 17%, standing at 1.47 million tons, according to data from the Department of Customs and Excise.
Vegetable exports in the first quarter have fallen by 7% compared to the same period in 2022, totaling 2.3 million tons, and fruit exports fell by 15%, standing at 1.9 million tons.
In contrast, vegetable imports increased by 13%, totaling 771,235 tons, and fruit imports increased by 21%, totaling 704,486 tons.
Both exports and imports have increased in value. Spanish fruit and vegetable exports have grown by 7.4%, totaling 6,968 million euro. 3,856 million euro corresponds to vegetables (+13%) and 3,112 million euro to fruits (+1.3%).
The value of imports increased by 25% and amounted to 1,555 million euro. Vegetable imports amounted to 546 million euro (+30%) and fruit imports totaled 1,009 million euro (+22%).
According to FEPEX, the decline in the export volume has been largely due to the adverse weather conditions at the beginning of the year. In January of this year, exports fell by 13% compared to January 2022, totaling 309,626 tons; in February they stood at 321,890 tons (-16%); in March they stood at 449,202 tons (-20%), and in April they fell by 17% totaling 395,003 tons.
Source: fepex.es