Watermelon and stonefruit volumes surged while citrus exports declined sharply, as Spain’s fresh produce sector maintained near-flat volumes
Spanish exports of fresh fruits and vegetables reached 8.2mn tonnes between January and August 2026, representing ”virtual stability” compared to the same period the previous year at a slight decline of 0.2 per cent.
Fruit exports grew by 1.4 per cent year-on-year, partially offsetting the 2.4 per cent reduction recorded in vegetables.
Of the total exported, fruit accounted for 4.7mn tonnes, while vegetables reached 3.5mn tonnes, according to data from the Department of Customs and Excise Duties, processed by Fepex.
Among the main fruits exported, watermelons saw particular growth, up 18 per cent to 852,378 tonnes – the leading Spanish fruit exported by volume during the period.
Growth was also recorded in melons, rising 12 per cent to 350,729 tonnes, and strawberries, up 4 per cent to 267,472 tonnes.
Stonefruit also saw volumes increase, with nectarines reaching 271,674 tonnes (up 6 per cent) and flat peaches (paraguayas) climbing 8 per cent to 171,471 tonnes.
By contrast, citrus showed a downward trend, Fepex reported.
Orange exports fell by 11.5 per cent to 845,971 tonnes, while mandarin exports dropped by 6.2 per cent to 496,820 tonnes. Lemon exports tumbled 8 per cent, down to 402,966 tonnes.
On the vegetable side, exports totalled 3.5mn tonnes, falling 2.4 per cent year-on-year.
Lettuce was the leading vegetable exported during the period at 500,611 tonnes (up 2.7 per cent), with cucumber exports also showing growth, reaching 432,430 tonnes (up 1.3 per cent).
Exports of other key Spanish products declined, with peppers dropping 2.5 per cent compared with January-August 2025 to 490,467 tonnes, and tomato exports continuing their downward trend, down 3 per cent to 396,084 tonnes.
In terms of value, Spanish fresh produce exports reached €13.66bn, a 5.8 per cent increase over the same period in 2025.
Fruit exports generated €7.72bn, rising by 4.2 per cent, while vegetable exports reached €5.94bn, an increase of 7.9 per cent.
The top performers by value were strawberries at €860mn (up 2 per cent), oranges at €830mn (down 9 per cent), mandarins at €755mn (up 0.5 per cent), and lemons at €678mn (up 15 per cent).
Among vegetables, peppers led in export value, accounting for €1.21bn, growth of 5 per cent.
