MADRID: Spanish fresh fruit and vegetable exports to the EU increased by 8% between January and May 2015 compared with the same period of 2014, totalling 5.5 million tonnes, while exports to third countries decreased by 18% during the same period, reaching 359,220 tonnes, according to updated data released by the Directorate General of Customs of the Ministry of Finance and processed by FEPEX.
In terms of value, Spanish fruit and vegetable exports to the EU grew by 13% to a total of 5.424 million Euro, while those shipped to third countries decreased by 15%, to a total of 354.2 million Euro.
The decline in exports to third countries was due to the fall in shipments to non-EU destinations at European level, which includes Russia, Switzerland and Norway, where a 37% drop was recorded, totalling 167,587 tonnes, mostly as a result of the falling exports to Russia because of the veto. 0 tonnes were shipped to Russia in the period between January and May, compared to 102,823 tonnes in the same period of 2014.
By contrast, Spanish exports to non-European third countries increased by 12%, to a total of 191,633 tonnes. The main destination countries in this group are Algeria, with 34,184 tonnes, 10% less than in 2014; Morocco with 32,432 tonnes (+37%); Canada, with 22,583 tonnes (-19%) and the UAE, with 22,538 tonnes (+17%).
