Germany accounts for 38.3% of Almeria pepper exports

The Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers' Organizations of Almeria, Coexphal, took advantage of its presence at Fruit Logistica, in Berlin, to present a report on Spain's pepper market, focusing on the product produced and marketed from Almeria.

According to the data presented by the manager of Coexphal, Luis Miguel Fernández, from December 2023 to November 2024, Almeria exported 517 million kilos of pepper to Germany (6.6% more than the previous year) for a value of 888 million euros, with a 1% variation.

In the same period, Spain exported 780 million kilos to Germany, i.e. 8.9% more than in the previous period, for 1,370 million euros (+2.8%).

These figures showcase the strength of Almeria's production sector, accounting for 66.2% of Spain's total pepper export volume and 64.8% of the value, he added.

Natural product
In his presentation, Luis Miguel Fernández highlighted that 99.9% of the 12,553 hectares of peppers in Almeria's countryside are cultivated using biological control, a cultivation practice that is already in the DNA of all pepper producers in Almeria, showcasing Almeria's fruit and vegetable sector's commitment to quality and food safety.

The Coexphal Manager also spoke about the Thrips parvispinus pest affecting this crop. "The visible signs on the products are evidence of the crop's good management. No chemical products are used against this pest, which does not affect the flavor, health, or organoleptic quality of Almeria's pepper."

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Andalusian Regional Government, pepper became the product with the largest surface area in Almeria's 32,483 hectares of greenhouse crops in the 2023/24 season.

Varieties
Exports are led by California peppers, with a 79% share, Lamuyo peppers (11%), Italian peppers (5%), and other varieties (5%), according to data from a survey carried out among Coexphal associates in 2023.

According to this survey, the main destinations for California pepper are Spain (23%), Germany (19%), the United Kingdom (16%), Poland and the Netherlands (9%), and France (8%), followed by the Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden, and Belgium, among others. 55% of the Italian peppers are sold in Spain and practically all of the Lamuyo (96%) is destined for the Spanish market.