MADRID: Andalusian berry exports from September 2015 to May 2016, when the production of these products peaks, were worth over 905 million Euro.
This figure represents an increase of 20.4 percent in volume and 21.4 percent in value over the same period a year earlier, according to data supplied by the Andalusian Agency for Foreign Promotion, Extenda, of the Council of Economy and Knowledge .
In a statement, the Council of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development explained that this figure, which is a new record in overseas sales, has confirmed that Andalusia remains a leader in the production and export of berries, accounting for more than 87 percent of Spain’s total exports in terms of value. For its part, Huelva represents 93.8 percent of Andalusia’s total, with 849 million Euro.
The most notable growth in terms of value has been that of currants, which have experienced an increase of 121 percent, with 7.6 million Euro and 891 tonnes; followed by blueberries (+27.5 percent), with 188 million Euro and 25,273 tonnes; and raspberries (+23.4 percent), with 233 million Euro and 28,824 tonnes.
In the case of strawberries, Andalusia has exported 258,000 tonnes in recent months (+20.4 percent) with a total value of 475 million Euro (+17.3 percent). The main destinations for these productions are the United Kingdom, with sales that totalled 252 million Euro, and Germany with 251 million Euro. These two countries account for more than half of all berry exports (55.6 percent).
These markets have experienced a 17.7 percent and 26.2 percent growth, respectively; however, France, which is the third destination in terms of value, reaching 112 million Euro, has been the one that has grown stronger (+38.3 percent).
