Spain’s Murcia region, one of the key production zones in the country, achieved a 17.6 per cent increase in fruit and vegetable export volumes during the first four months of 2011, although the value of those exports dropped by 5.2 per cent to €598m.
Between January and April, total fresh produce exports from the region reached 767,807 tonnes, which was principally accounted for by 539,262 tonnes of vegetables.
At 277,152 tonnes, lettuce was the main vegetable product exported during the four-month period, which was equivalent to a 15.3 per cent rise in exported volumes compared with the same time a year before. However, the value of these exports again dropped by 15.7 per cent to €209m.
Other major products exported during the period included tomatoes (49,418 tonnes), celery (28,907 tonnes) and lemons (124,942 tonnes), with the latter equivalent to a 23 per cent rise in exported volumes compared with the first four months of 2010.
However, export group Proexport, which issued the figures, said that although the data demonstrated a recovery in fruit and vegetable consumption at a European level, the increased exports had not led to improved returns for growers.
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