Spanish fresh produce imports climb 6 per cent in volume and 13 per cent in value during January-September period

Year-on-year growth in Spanish fresh produce imports climbed 6 per cent in volume and jumped 13 per cent in value for the January-September period.

Total volume came in at 3.4mn tonnes and value stood at €4.11bn respectively, according to data from the Department of Customs and Special Taxes, processed by Fepex.

Of that 3.4mn tonnes, 1.8mn tonnes was fruit imports, marking a 7.5 per cent increase compared to the previous year, while the value of imported fruit grew even more, up 17 per cent to €2.9bn.

Bananas remained the most imported fruit, with 314,853 tonnes (up 3 per cent) and €219mn (up 5 per cent).

However, it was avocados that showed the highest growth during the nine-month period, with a 22 per cent increase in volume to 244,785 tonnes, for a value of €496mn, up 3 per cent.

Another product showing strong year-on-year growth was kiwifruit, with 135,034 tonnes (up 10 per cent) for a value of €339.5mn (up 18 per cent).

Orange imports decreased in both volume (down 35 per cent) and value (down 9 per cent), settling at 117,839 tonnes and €99mn respectively, Fepex noted.

Apples decreased by 2 per cent in volume, coming to 137,398 tonnes, but increased by 6 per cent in value, totalling €154mn.

Vegetables imports in the first nine months of the year grew 5 per cent in volume and 4 per cent in value up to 1.6mn tonnes and €1.208bn.

Potatoes were the most imported vegetable, with 931,987 tonnes (up 1 per cent) and a value of €364mn (down 13 per cent).

Growth in tomato and onion imports were described as “noteworthy” by Fepex.

Tomato imports increased by 10 per cent in volume and 51 per cent in value to 163,516 tonnes and €230mn respectively, while onion imports jumped 35 per cent in volume and 18 per cent in value to 136,041 tonnes and €78mn.