New customs data processed by Fepex reveals that non-EU suppliers are increasingly driving Spain’s fresh produce import growth
Spain’s fresh produce imports from third countries grew in both volume and value during the opening four months of the year.
That is according to new data from the country’s Department of Customs and Special Taxes, processed by Fepex.
Imports climbed 7 per cent in volume and 9 per cent in value compared with the same period of 2025, totalling 917,307 tonnes and €1.518bn respectively.
Overall fresh fruit and vegetables imports for January-April climbed 6 per cent in volume and 4 per cent in value, coming in at 1.7mn tonnes and €2.095bn.
This growth was driven primarily by purchases from countries outside the EU, further increasing their share of Spain’s external supply, Fepex noted.
Consequently, third countries accounted for 72 per cent of the total value of fresh fruit and vegetables imported by Spain during January-April 2026, compared with 28 per cent from the EU.
In terms of volume, imports from outside the EU represented 52 per cent of the total, surpassing those from the EU, which accounted for 48 per cent.
Fepex said that, by contrast, purchases from EU member states demonstrated more moderate trends.
The volume of fresh fruit and vegetables imported from the EU rose to 837,267 tonnes – up 5.3 per cent from the same period the previous year – while value fell by 6 per cent to €577mn.
Purchases from non-European markets outside the EU reached 895,791 tonnes, up 6.5 per cent, and generated a value of €1,503mn, 9 per cent higher year-on-year.
Morocco led the way in terms of third country imports with a value of €710mn, up 5.6 per cent on 2025.
This was followed by Peru (€183mn), Costa Rica (€113mn) and Brazil, which recorded one of the highest growth rates, up 17.5 per cent to €87mn.
In terms of volume, France remained Spain’s leading supplier with 494,547 tonnes, followed by Morocco (232,993 tonnes), Costa Rica (141,019 tonnes), the Netherlands (105,065 tonnes), and Peru (94,236 tonnes).
“The data indicate that the rise in Spanish imports of fresh fruit and vegetables during the first four months of 2026 was driven primarily by the dynamism of non-EU countries,” said Fepex.
“These nations now clearly account for the majority of import value and continue to increase their share of Spain’s total foreign purchases.”
