Spanish fruit, vegetable exports reach value of EUR14.594 billion

The Spanish exportation of fresh fruits and vegetables in 2020 reached a value of EUR14.594 billion, a rise of 7.7% compared to 2019. The volume registered a year-on-year decrease of 2.8%, standing at 13 million tons, according to data from the Customs and Special Taxes Department. The European Union (EU), still including the United Kingdom, accounted for 93.5% of exports. 

The exportation of vegetables in 2020 grew by 4.6%, reaching EUR6.022 billion, while volume was the same as in 2019 at 5.6 million tons. Pepper remains the leading vegetable exported by Spain, weighing 845,359 tons (+ 2%) and valued at EUR1.158 billion (+ 4%), followed by lettuce with 766,384 tons (+ 0.7%) or EUR644 million (+ 7%). Tomato, which has historically been the leading vegetable exported by Spain, occupies the third position in terms of volume, with 728,809 tons (-5%) or EUR934 million (+ 1%). 

Fruit exports in 2020 stood at EUR8.572 billion, 10% higher in value than in 2019, but volume fell by 5% (7.4 million tons). The value of most exported product groups, such as citrus or stone fruit, increased, while red fruits remained stable. The major types of stone fruits, peach and nectarine, grew in trade value by 8% and 13%, respectively, or EUR397 million and EUR451 million, but their volumes decreased by 19% and 23%, with 325,027 tons and 328,252 tons, respectively. Cherry registered a considerable drop of 30% both in terms of volume and in value with 20,193 tons and EUR64 million. 

Regarding red fruits, strawberry exports stood at EUR586 million (-1.4%) amounting to 286,852 tons (-2.2%), while blueberry exports totaled EUR378 million (+ 12%) at 66,103 tons (-3%), and raspberry exports were valued at EUR429 million, the same figure as in 2019, weighing 59,222 tons (-14%). The exportation of summer fruits, such as watermelon and melon, also grew by 7% and 1%, respectively, at 444 million and 321 million tons. 

In terms of autonomous communities, Andalusia exported 4.4 million tons of fresh fruits and vegetables in 2020, 2% less than in 2019, valued at EUR5.662 billion (+ 4%), followed by the Valencian Community with EUR3.8 million.