Political crisis halts growth in Russian and Ukraine in first quarter of 2014
The volume of Spanish fruit and vegetable exports increased by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the year-earlier period, reaching 3.4m tonnes, according to the latest figures from export federation Fepex. The value of exports rose by 1.4% to €3.172bn.
Fepex said the growth rate was lower than in previous years, due mainly to the political uncertainty in eastern Europe and a fall in the volume of oranges, mandarins and strawberries sold overseas. Overall, the volume of fruit exported fell by 10.7% to 1.6m tonnes, or €1.446bn (-4.8%) in value terms.
Vegetable exports increased by 7% in value and 13% in volume, reaching 1.8m tonnes with an equivalent sales value of €1.726bn. Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and cucumbers are the main products exported during this period.
Exports to the European Union were broadly in line with the first quarter of 2013, rising 0.4% to 3.22m tonnes. Sendings to Russia and the Ukraine fell by 14% and 8% respectively due to the political turmoil in the region. While shipments to countries outside Europe grew by 16%, they still represent a tiny fraction of exports, totalling 97,409 tonnes, Fepex said. Overall, exports to non-EU markets grew by 1% to 262,948 tonnes.