Spain, Imports from non-EU countries on the rise

Non-EU countries´ share in the Spanish imports of fruits and vegetables in recent years has been growing to the detriment of EU countries, accounting for 40.7% of total imports to Spain, versus 33.2% five years ago.

Spanish imports of fruits and vegetables in 2008 stood at 2.6 million tons, of which 1.5 million were imported from the EU (59.2% of the total) while 1.06 million tonnes corresponded to products from non-EU countries, 40.7% of the total. Five years ago, in 2004, the EU accounted for 66.7% of Spanish imports and third countries 33.2%.

The share of non-EU countries in the Spanish import market is higher for fruits than for vegetables. Spanish fruit imports in 2008 amounted to 1.3 million tons, of which 65% (848,047 tonnes) from countries outside the EU, while 456,275 tons were from EU countries.

The main fruits imported to Spain are citrus, apples, bananas, pineapple and kiwifruits. For all these products the major suppliers are non-EU countries, especially Latin America, except for apples, that are imported mostly from France. In Spain imports from third countries account for 79% of the total for citrus fruits, 87% for bananas, 50% for kiwifruits and 81% for pineapple.

Spanish vegetable imports in 2008 amounted to 1.3 million tons, of which 221,183 tonnes, 17% of the total, were from third countries, according to data from the Directorate General of Customs in Spain, processed by FEPEX.


Source: fruttaonline.it

Publication date: 5/25/2009