Pip fruit contact group of Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal addresses challenges of the sector

The pear and apple contact group of Spain, France, Italy and Portugal met last week to analyze the current challenges in the sector, such as the proposal for a Regulation regarding the sustainable use of phytosanitary products or the rise in costs.

 

The results of the meeting showed that in all community farms the increase in all production costs is observed.

 

In Spain, the data for March 2022 presented by the Pip Fruit Committee of the Spanish Federation of Associations of Exporting Producers of Fruit, Vegetables, Flowers and Live Plants (FEPEX) indicate a 40% increase in the production costs of apple, driven by the increase in labor and by the growth in the price of energy that was reflected in the handling, transport and conservation processes and resulted in increased costs both in the production plants and in the fields.

 

In addition, the contact group marked one of the worrying problems for European producers, and it is the proposed Regulation for the sustainable use of phytosanitary products, presented in June by the European Commission. The proposed Regulation foresees a 50% reduction in the use of pesticides by 2030 and that of fertilizers by 20%.

 

Current situation of pear and apple export and import in Spain

 

From January to September 2022, the country exported 76,863 tons of apples for a value of 62.4 million euros, while imports totaled 117,183 tons for 90.4 million euros.

 

During the same term, Spain exported 68,998 tons of pears for 56 million euros. The importation of the same fruit totaled 41,472 tons for 39.5 million euros, according to the Customs and Excise Department of the Tax Agency.​​

 

 

 

source: fepex.es