Europe dominates Spanish fruit and vegetable exports in first half of 2026
Spain exported 6.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables worth €11.605 billion in the first half of 2026. Volumes slipped 0.6%, but export value rose 6%, with Germany, France and the UK remaining the largest destinations.
Export value rises despite lower volume
Spanish fruit and vegetable exports reached 6.5 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, down 0.6% from the same period of 2025, while their value increased 6% to €11.605 billion. The figures, reported by Fruchtportal using customs and excise data compiled by the Spanish federation of fruit and vegetable exporters FEPEX, indicate that higher unit values offset the modest contraction in shipments.
Europe remained the industry’s core market. European Union countries received 5.5 million tonnes, equivalent to 84% of Spain’s total export volume, and accounted for €9.552 billion, or 82% of export value. Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy and Poland continued to form the principal group of buyers.
Germany consolidates its leading position
Germany was Spain’s largest fruit and vegetable market, taking 1.9 million tonnes during the six-month period. Volume increased 0.9% year on year, while export value rose 6.3% to €3.474 billion. Germany alone therefore represented close to three tenths of Spain’s total shipment volume and export revenue.
France remained the second-largest destination at 1.14 million tonnes. Its purchases fell 3.5% by volume, but their value advanced 4.7% to €1.817 billion. The Netherlands, the third-largest EU market, followed the same pattern: shipments declined 3.4% to 498,325 tonnes, while revenue climbed 5.6% to €944 million.
Italy and Portugal recorded growth in both measures. Exports to Italy increased 6.9% by volume to 358,912 tonnes and 11.3% by value to €579 million. Portugal received 435,461 tonnes, up 3.8%, with the value rising 5.9% to €490 million. Poland reduced its volume by 3.7% to 290,325 tonnes, but paid 8% more, with purchases valued at €521 million.
The UK leads markets outside the EU
The UK remained Spain’s largest non-EU destination and one of its three leading markets overall. Spanish suppliers shipped 717,444 tonnes there, worth €1.413 billion. Volume declined 3%, while value increased 2.1%, extending the broader pattern of revenue growth despite weaker physical shipments.
Switzerland ranked second among European destinations outside the EU, receiving 105,901 tonnes valued at €290 million. Its volume decreased 4%, but value rose 8.9%. Norway moved in the opposite direction on both indicators, cutting import volume by 6.1% and value by 5.7%.
Non-European sales grow from a small base
Shipments beyond Europe rose 18% to 151,111 tonnes, while their value increased 5% to €198.4 million. Despite that expansion, these destinations represented only 2.3% of Spain’s total export volume and 1.7% of value, underlining the sector’s continued dependence on nearby European consumers and distribution networks.
Canada purchased 7,839 tonnes worth €14.7 million, while Saudi Arabia received 8,872 tonnes valued at €14.6 million. Volumes to both markets declined compared with 2025, although the value of Saudi purchases increased 9.1%. FEPEX said the destination data confirmed that Europe remains the natural market for Spanish fruit and vegetables. For producers and exporters, the first-half figures show firm revenue but also concentrated exposure to demand, pricing and retail conditions in a limited number of European economies.
