Spain plums

Spanish plums proved popular in Brazil last year

Brazil and Canada are the main export destinations for Spanish fresh produce outside of Europe, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Economics' Directorate General of Customs.

Shipments to Brazil came to €70.4m in value terms, up 25 per cent on 2013, while volumes jumped to 88,895 tonnes, climbing 56 per cent, Fepex reported.

The primary fruits and vegetables exported to Brazil were plums with 21,211 tonnes (up 86 per cent), pears at 13,608 tonnes (+36.6 per cent), oranges with 10,468 tonnes (+18 per cent) and onions at 10,021 tonnes (+155 per cent).

Canada, mneanwhile, took on 58,721 tonnes of fresh produce through 2014, an increase of 209 per cent, with value up 165 per cent to €58.5m.

The top products sent to the North American nation were oranges at 22,401 tonnes, and tangerines at 17,635 tonnes.

Total Spanish exports to non-European third countries in 2014 grew by 32 per cent in value, reaching €421.5m, while volumes rose 46 per cent to 487,989 tonnes.

Fepex noted that the 'remarkable' growth of Spanish exports to non-European third countries such as Brazil and Canada reflected the Spanish fresh produce industry's interest in diversifying markets, as well as the growing potential of the countries on the east coast of the American continent.