Spanish imports soared in January

Spain saw growth in fresh produce imports and exports during January, rising in both volume and value on the same month of 2023.

Data from the Department of Customs and Excise Taxes, made public by the Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Company, showed imports jumping 26 per cent in value to €390m and 11 per cent in volume to 345,185 tonnes.

Vegetable imports soared by 43 per cent in value and 21 per cent in volume, up to €162m and 201,305 tonnes respectively.

Highlighting Morocco, Fepex said that imports from the North African country had increased 31 per cent in volume on the year-earlier period to 57,534 tonnes, ”focused on production that coincides with the Spanish campaign”.

Spain’s exports, meanwhile, grew 1 per cent in volume to 1.1m tonnes and 6 per cent in value to €1.75bn.

Exports of vegetables were up 6 per cent in volume at 649,958 tonnes, with value rising 11 per cent to €1.025bn.

However, fruit exports fell 4 per cent in volume to 514,374 tonnes, at a stable value of €725m.

Oranges, strawberries and raspberries saw a particular fall in year-on-year volume, Fepex reported.