MADRID: Spain’s fresh fruit and vegetable imports between January and September 2015 stood at 1.8 million tonnes, of which 58% (1.07 million tonnes) came from the EU, representing an increase of 5% compared to the same period of 2014. Non-EU suppliers accounted for 42% of the total (784,271 tonnes), according to data from the Department of Customs and Special Taxes of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness processed by FEPEX.
In value terms, Spanish fruit and vegetable imports up until September 2015 stood at 1.414 million Euro, of which 39% (550.6 million Euro) came from EU countries and the other 61%, a total of 864 million Euro, to non-EU countries.
At EU level, France is Spain’s leading supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables, with 522,331 tonnes, 28% of the total imports, followed by Portugal, with 188,333 tonnes, 10% of the total; the Netherlands, with 106,305 tonnes (6% of the total) and Italy, with 100,982 tonnes (5% of the total).
Among the main non-EU suppliers, the most noteworthy are Costa Rica, with 136,098 tonnes imported between January and September 2015, 2% more than in the same period of 2014; Brazil, with 60,721 tonnes, 10% more, or Argentina, with 58,735 tonnes, up 7%.
