The fruit and vegetable sector in test: rules and prices threaten their competitiveness | Economy | EUROtoday

The efficiency of the fruits and vegetable sector is greater than 70% of all plant manufacturing and 38% of the agrarian and makes use of greater than 500,000 individuals within the area, to which the exercise in trade is added, Manipulation and commerce. However, regardless of these figures, the sector faces a sequence of measures that severely threaten its competitiveness, comparable to the best calls for in decreasing the usage of phytosanitary with yield adjustment. They are a lot more durable necessities than people who apply when producing in third international locations, to which the very best labor prices are added. All this favors the rise in cheaper imports and will increase the difficulties in opening new markets through costs.

From the Federation of Producers and Exporters of vegatables and fruits they level out these rising difficulties to compete. Not due to a enterprise administration downside, however principally as a result of highest prices, from work to bureaucratics, and a hyperregulation of the exercise. To that is added the impossibility of utilizing many phytosanitary merchandise to enhance yields and decrease prices for well being causes that, nevertheless, do use third -country producers in acquiring merchandise that then place with out issue in group companions.

The Agrarian Organization Unió highlights the issues that imports attributable to financial circumstances and, above all, well being during which they’re carried out. Unió factors out that solely in 2024 892 objects of fruit and vegetable merchandise from third international locations had been rejected for holding lively substances not approved within the EU or by exceeding the utmost restrict of approved waste.

However, there are additionally exterior issues. The sector denounces the difficulties to compete in different international locations as a result of phytosanitary calls for that face export to 3rd markets. These norms, in lots of circumstances, are nothing greater than synthetic boundaries geared toward defending native markets from overseas competitors.

From the employer it’s identified that the agri -food sector acts as an entrance means for the fruit and vegetable productions of different EU international locations, however particularly of additional -community international locations. These imports are required to fulfill the identical phytosanitary and regulatory requirements as nationwide producers. These calls for are specified within the software of the mirror clause, group choice or numerous safeguards to guard the home market. They will also be established in agreements with third international locations, as with Mercosur or Morocco in facets comparable to the utmost waste limits.

Despite these challenges, the sector stays an excellent exporter. However, the destructive half is that, to take care of its presence within the markets, gross sales progress happens extra in quantity than in worth.

With information till October, extrapolated on the finish of the yr, imports reached 3.6 million tons, with a rise of 6.6% in quantity and a rise of 12% in worth, as much as 4,087 million euros. The common worth rose from 1.08 to 1.14 euros per kilo. In distinction, it’s estimated that exports will develop 6%, reaching 12 million tons and exceeding 14,000 million euros in worth. However, costs have fallen to 1.45 euros per kilo, which represents a lower of three.3% attributable to overseas competitors.

As for exports, greatest -selling merchandise are oranges, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, melon, watermelon, strawberries and tomatoes, primarily geared toward European international locations, particularly group. However, phytosanitary and tariff boundaries persist that hinder entry to giant consuming markets such because the United States and different South American international locations.

In the import part, merchandise comparable to potatoes and onions from France and the Netherlands stand out, in addition to tomatoes and beans of Morocco. Avocados, kiwis, bananas and pineapples even have a big weight, largely imported from America.