Spain to export stone-fruit to South Africa

Spanish producers and exporters of stone fruit can now export to South Africa, according to the "Protocol for export of stone fruit from Spain to South Africa" which was signed this week between the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Environment, MAGRAMA, and the Department of Agriculture, Services Forestry and Fisheries of the Republic of South Africa.

The EU accounts for 93% of Spanish exports of Spanish fruit and vegetables. However, producers and exporters grouped in FEPEX have shown a growing interest in exporting to countries that are not in the community, in order to diversify export markets.

South Africa has been identified as one those countries out with the EU with more interest in the stone fruit sector and for that the MAGRAMA has had to negotiate a protocol to export to this country that has been completed and signed this week.

Although the implementation of this protocol has significant technical difficulties, the stone fruit industry welcomes the opportunity to export to South Africa. FEPEX considers essential the actual opening of new destination countries for exports of Spanish fruit and vegetables. In this regard, it is considered necessary to have a more active stance by the European Commission, which is primarily responsible for opening new markets, given the structure of EU competence.

Spanish exports to South Africa in 2011 stood at 4,543 tons, of which 3,818 tons corresponded to fruit and 725 tons to vegetables. The main exported fruit to this country were table grapes and avocado, according to the Department of Customs and Excise Tax Agency.

In the first quarter of 2011, Spanish exports to South Africa stood at 724 tons compared to 494 tons in the same period in 2011. Along with South Africa other markets with prospects for Spanish exports are Mexico, Israel, and so on.

Source: Fepex