The Region of Murcia has positioned itself as Spain's third fresh-fruit-and-vegetable exporter community after exporting a total of 2.5 million tons in 2019 for a value of 2,564 million euro (2.4% more than in the previous campaign). This places it only behind Andalusia (4.5 million tons) and the Valencian Community (4.05 million tons).
Murcia's agricultural sector currently directly accounts for 24.3% of the Region's total GDP and indirectly for approximately 50%. In this context, fruit and vegetable exports accounted for almost half of the turnover of Murcia's agriculture (6,251 million euro) in 2019 and 8% of the Region of Murcia's GDP (31,259 million euro).
Natalia Corbalan, the CEO of Fundación Ingenio, stated that "this data reaffirms something we already knew: Murcia is the pantry of Europe. As such, the region's sector is an excellent ambassador for the Spain Brand. However, the exceptional situations we have experienced, where the agri-food sector has been key to guaranteeing supply, have shown us that it's necessary to give agriculture the importance and support it deserves. It must continue to be the socioeconomic engine of the country, as our duty is to cover the ever-growing need for food and focus on consuming healthier products."
Agriculture in Spain has a wide potential; in fact, 33% of the country's surface corresponds to farmland. This makes it the second country with the most agricultural production in Europe. Spanish exports of fruit and vegetables amounted to 13.5 million tons in 2019 (7.7% more than in 2018) worth 13,542 million euro (5.5% more).
Source: laopiniondemurcia.es