Spanish ports, the best option for importing/exporting fruit and vegetables
In 2018 over 11 million tons of fruit and vegetables were moved through the Spanish ports
- The import/export of fruit and vegetables exceeded 4 million tons in 2018.
- 8 port authorities, at the "Ports of Spain" booth, offer a full logistics range.
- Spain's ambassador to Germany, Ricardo Martínez, visited the Spanish booth with the corporate director, Magec Montesdeoca.
07-02-2019 (Spanish Ministry of Public Works and Transport). The 46 general interest ports moved 560 million tons in 2018, over 11 million of which were fruit, greens and vegetables. And over 4 million of these 11 million tons were from import/export traffic, which makes Spain one of the main suppliers of this type of product to the rest of Europe.
The increase in this type of cargo results, to a large extent, from harnessing the sea cabotage lines with European countries, the target market of around 90% of Spanish exports, as well as with African countries on the Mediterranean Sea; and this has fostered an increase in intermodality.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) remarked that Spanish is the leading exporter of fruit and vegetables in Europe. According to the latest data from the Spanish Federation of Producers and Exporters of Fruit and Vegetables (FEPEX), Spanish exports of fruit and vegetables amounted to 12.704 billion euros in 2017, of which 93% went to markets in the European Union. Around 7 million tons of fruit and vegetables were exported (domestic production) or moved in transit (from other countries) through our ports.
Also, Spain's strategic location has made the country the "gateway" into Europe of fruit imports from other countries, with over 5 million tons in transit. Spanish ports offer an ample network of "reefer" connections at port terminals, manned by companies specializing in refrigerated storage both at the ports and their associated logistics zones. According to data from the Spanish association of refrigerated facilities (Aldefe), the occupancy index in its members' premises (around 3 million m3) exceeded 85% in 3Q 2018 with over €100m turnover and employing over 1,400 people.
FRUIT LOGISTICA: AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE SPAIN'S POTENTIAL
The Spanish ports are attending the Fruit Logistica fair in Berlin with a strong range of products and services for the fresh fruit and vegetable market. With the motto "CONNECTING THE WORLD TO FRESH FOOD" at the booth "Ports of Spain," 8 port authorities (Bahía de Algeciras, Bahía de Cádiz, Bilbao, Castellón, Huelva, Motril, S.C. Tenerife, y Valencia) offer 85 million m2 of land and storage areas, refrigerated storage with around 2 million m3 of capacity, over 300,000 linear meters of quay, connections with any port in the word, border inspection points, phytosanitary services and all kinds of logistics solutions.
Spain's ambassador to Germany, Ricardo Martínez, visited the Spanish booth today with the corporate director of Puertos del Estado, Magec Montesdeoca. During his visit, he saw how important a role Spain plays as a logistics platform and the intensive commercial activity performed by the Port Authorities and the Spanish businesses present at the fair.
Spanish ports are the perfect choice for importing and exporting fruit and vegetables since around 85% of Spanish imports and 60% of Spanish exports go through our ports. In this context, Fruit Logistica is an excellent opportunity to network with the main suppliers for this market and to keep our position as the world leader in fruit and vegetable exports.
