Spanish fruit and vegetable exports to non-EU countries rose in 2017

Spain recorded a slight increase in the value of its fresh produce exports to countries outside the EU in 2017, according to new data from the country’s Customs and Excise department. Total Spanish fruit and vegetable exports to non-EU countries grew 1% to €538m and accounted for 4.7% of the country’s total exports for the period.

Brazil was the number-one market for Spanish produce outside the EU (€88.6m), but this figure represented a drop of 15% from the previous year. The US imported €58m of Spanish fruit and vegetables (+7%), Canada imported €57m (+17%) and the UAE bought €56.1m of fresh Spanish produce (-6%). Morocco was Africa’s leading importer, with €56.4m (+24%). Elsewhere, the value of China’s imports of Spanish fruit and vegetables increased sharply, to €21.6m (+49%).

Spanish association Fepex described the ongoing diversification of exports into different markets as

“a difficult and long-term challenge.”