Beans market in Spain

Earlier Report Observations

The Spanish fresh bean market opened the period at 261 thousand tons in 2018, supported by the launch of new high-yield, nematode-resistant green bean varieties and agreements with major supermarket chains that grouped over 500 farmers, bolstering domestic production. A shift of production to Morocco began affecting the market structure, contributing to a decline to 242 thousand tons in 2019. However, in 2020, market volume rebounded to 255 thousand tons, aided by regulatory flexibility: Royal Decree 1086/2020 allowed exemptions from pre-cooling requirements for transport under HACCP rules, reducing logistical barriers for chilled beans.

From 2021, the market resumed its downward trend, falling to 244 thousand tons that year. A significant contraction occurred in 2022, with consumption of green beans dropping 18.7% due to rising vegetable prices and reduced consumer purchasing power, coupled with a reduction in cultivated area in Almería and Granada caused by high labor costs and agronomic constraints. This pushed the market volume down to 220 thousand tons. Inflationary pressures and a 9.7% price increase for green legumes further suppressed consumption in 2023, reducing the market to 206 thousand tons.

Underlying these movements was a growing reliance on imports, particularly from Morocco, driven by more competitive production costs abroad. Regulatory developments also shaped the market environment, including the 2022 EU authorization of mung bean protein as a novel food, creating innovation potential, and the introduction of stricter EU packaging and labeling rules for traceability in 2023, affecting market operations for fresh and chilled products.

Production beans in Spain

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Spain ranked as the 12th largest producer of beans globally.

Top producers of beans, 2017-2020

World map of production of beans, 2017-2020

Spain's bean production grew for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 148.0 thousand tonnes of beans, marking a 3.3% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 9.6%, with an average annual decline of 3.3%. The lowest output was in 2018 at 138.9 thousand tonnes, which also saw the steepest drop of 15.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Spain in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Spain's bean production value rose for the second consecutive year. In 2020, bean output was valued at 363.0 million US dollars, up 3.7% year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 11.2%, averaging a 3.9% annual decline. The lowest value occurred in 2018 at 331.8 million US dollars, with the largest drop that year of 18.8%. In contrast, 2019 saw the biggest increase of 5.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Spain in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports beans from Spain

Exports in kind, K t

Spain exported 24.4 thousand tonnes of beans in 2020, a 13.1% improvement over 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports surged by 49.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 14.3%. The largest decline was in 2019 at 2.2%, while 2018 recorded the highest increase of 34.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Spain in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, Germany, and France were the key partners for Spain's bean exports by volume, accounting for 33.2%, 15.2%, and 15.0% of exports, respectively. Together, they represented 63.3% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Spain in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Spain's bean exports in value terms increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 59.7 million US dollars, a strong gain of 13.5% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 46.6%, with an average annual rate of 13.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Spain in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017-2020, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany led as the top buyers of Spanish beans by value, with shares of 35.2%, 18.6%, and 12.7%, respectively. Combined, they accounted for 66.6% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Spain in value, 2017-2020

Imports beans to Spain

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Spain imported 131.4 thousand tonnes of beans, a moderate improvement of 9.1% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 17.2%, averaging 5.4% annual growth. The highest volume was in 2018 at 143.9 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 28.4%. The biggest decline occurred in 2019 at 16.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Spain in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Morocco and France remained the main suppliers of beans to Spain, together accounting for 98.4% of total imports by volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Spain in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Spain's bean import value declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 162.4 million US dollars, down 6.4% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 8.6%, with an average annual decline of 2.9%. The peak value was in 2018 at 208.8 million US dollars, which also had the largest increase of 17.5%. The steepest drop was in 2019 at 16.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Spain in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Morocco dominated Spain's bean imports by value, accounting for 90.2% of total imports, making it the overwhelmingly dominant market.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Spain in value, 2017-2020