Spanish exports of fruits and vegetables surpassed 14.500 million euros

The export of vegetables in 2020 increased by 4.6 percent totaling 6.022 million euros with the same volume as in 2019 (5.6 million tons). The pepper remains a leading Spanish export vegetable, with 845.359 tons (+2 percent) and 1.158 million euros (+4 percent), followed by lettuce with 766.384 tons (+0.7 percent) and 644 million euros (+7 percent); and tomatoes with 728.809 tons (-5 percent) and 934 million euros (+1 percent).

Fruit exports in 2020 stood at 8.572 million euros, 10 percent more than in 2019, and the volume fell by 5 percent, with a total of 7.4 million tons.

The main species in stone fruit are nectarine (+13 percent) and peach (8 percent), totaling 397 million euros and 451 million euros, with a decrease in volume of 23 percent and 19 percent, respectively, with 328.252 and 325.027 tons.

Cherry showed a drop of 30 percent both in volume and in value, totaling 20.193 tons and 64 million euros.

Regarding red fruits, strawberry exports stood at 586 million euros (-1.4 percent) and 286.852 tons (-2.2 percent), blueberries totaled 378 million euros (+12 percent) and 66.103 tons (-3 percent) and raspberries reached 429 million euros, the same figure as in 2019 and 59.222 tons (-14 percent).

Watermelon and melon also increased by 7 percent and 1 percent, for a total of 444 million euros and 321 million euros, respectively.

Analyzing by autonomous communities, in 2020 Andalusia exported 4.4 million tons of fresh fruits and vegetables, 2 percent less than the previous year, for a value of 5.662 million euros (+4 percent); Valencian Community exported 3.8 million tons (-4 percent) and 3.972 million euros (+12 percent); Murcia, with 2.6 million tons (+1 percent) and 2.843 million euros (+11 percent); Catalonia , with 967.727 tons (-5 percent) and 990 million euros (+12 percent). 

In the case of communities with much smaller volumes, horticulture also had an important presence, such as Aragon, with 175.130 tons (-18 percent) and 209 million euros (+2 percent); Castilla-La Mancha with 181.587 tons (-10 percent) and 176 million euros (+9 percent) and Extremadura, with 131.029 tons (-17 percent) and 169 million euros (-10 percent).

Regarding destinations, 93.5 percent of total volume sold abroad received the EU, while only 3.7 percent of exports went outside Europe.

Imports in 2020 have maintained its positive evolution, with an increase of 3.5 percent in volume compared to 2019 and 6 percent in value, totaling 3.4 million tons and 3.118 million euros.