MADRID: The value of Spanish fruit and vegetable exports in May increased by 8% compared to the same month in 2014, totalling 1,144 million Euro, while the volume declined by 5%, reaching 1 million tonnes, according to data of the Department of Customs and Special Taxes of the Ministry of Economy processed by FEPEX.
Fruit exports in May grew by 5% in value, compared to the same month of 2014, to a total of 793 million Euro, while the volume was reduced by the same percentage, reaching 676,040 tonnes. Oranges, watermelons, lemons, nectarines and strawberries were the main fruits exported that month. Orange exports amounted to 185,770 tons (+8%), watermelons stood at 87,470 tonnes (-16%), lemons reached 71,516 tonnes (+1.5), nectarines totalled 61,048 tonnes (-16 %) and strawberries reached 48,713 tonnes (-37%). Also worthy to note is the growth of berries like blueberries, with 24,681 tonnes (+6.5%) and a value of 81.4 million Euro (+39%), or raspberries, with 5,715 tonnes (+12%) and a value of 43 million Euro (+16%).
Vegetables registered a 15% increase in terms of value, reaching 353.5 million Euro, while the volume decreased by 4%. The main vegetables exported were tomatoes, with 64,459 tonnes (+1%) and 55 million Euro (+12%); lettuce, with 48,410 tonnes (+2%) and 42.5 million Euro (+30%); cabbage, with 43,202 tonnes (-18%) and 43 million Euro (-4%) and peppers, with 37,917 tonnes (-9%) and 62 million Euro (+43%).
Between January and May, Spanish exports grew by 6% in volume compared to the same period of 2014, totalling 5.9 million tonnes, with a value of 5.778 million Euro (+11%). Fruit shipments overseas increased by 10% in volume and 12% in value, to a total of 3.1 million tonnes and 3.070 million Euro, respectively. Vegetable exports totalled 2.7 million tonnes (+1%) valued at 2.708 million Euro (+9%).
