Fepex attributes lower vegetable export volumes in particular to ongoing Russian ban
Spanish fresh produce association Fepex has revealed that the country’s horticultural exports fell in both volume and value during September, when compared with the same month of 2013.
Taking the data from the customs and tax agency, Fepex said that fresh produce exports fell 8% in volume to 510,698 tonnes, and 4.6% in value to €442.9m.
Vegetable exports fell 23% in volume and 21% in value, reaching 151,889 tonnes and €117m respectively, reflecting in particular a sharp drop in tomato shipments to 21,401 tonnes (-41%), cucumbers (-46%), potatoes (-46%) and aubergine (-53%).
According Fepex, the sharp fall in Spanish vegetable exports was attributed mainly to the Russian veto, which has been in effect since 7 August, as well as the growth of domestic production in the EU.
Fruit exports in September totalled 364,809 tonnes, the same as in September 2013, while value rose by 2.8% to €325.8m euros.
For the January to September period, meanwhile, Spanish horticultural exports increased in volume while value fell. Volume came to 8.5m tonnes, 3% more than in the same period of 2013, while value dropped 1% to €7.6m.
“For Fepex, export behaviour up to September 2014 highlights the need to prioritise the opening of new markets,” the organisation noted. “The effort to open the markets of third countries should be increased by two lines of action: first, accelerating the process of negotiating the phytosanitary requirements of third countries and, secondly, strengthening advocacy on these markets.”