LISBON: Portuguese fresh vegetable shipments have grown by almost 26% in recent years (from 780 million Euros in 2010 to 983 million in 2013), said Laurent Armaos, of the Commercial Department of the Embassy of Portugal in Athens in an interview to Agrotypos.
Regarding the destinations of exportable products, Mr Armaos reported that “the majority of exports went to countries in Europe, South America and Africa, given the strategic geographical position of Portugal and convenient access to maritime transport.”
As reported to Agrotypos by the president of Portugal Fresh, Mr Manuel Evora, “Portuguese vegetables are exported to 100 countries worldwide. Producers fully comply with all good agricultural practices. Portugal aims to double exports of fruits and vegetables by 2020 and reach a value of 2 billion Euros. 40% of the country’s production is exported.”
The Portuguese Minister of Agriculture, Assuncao Cristas, said that the export sector helped reduce the country’s deficit by 1.2 billion Euros between 2012 and 2014, with the trade agreement signed in 2013 between Brazil and Portugal playing a significant role.
