Fruit Today held a two-way meeting with Tomás Quesada, director of F&H, and Ingrid Buera, Business Area manager, to discover the market evolution firsthand.
Compared to 2014, the market statistics are clearly positive.
Yes, it is true. Marketing has increased by 2% compared to 2014, with a total volume of 1,062,590 tonnes. The average price has also risen by 3.7%, reaching 0.87 €/kg. However, fruit and vegetables continue to show different behaviour. Fruit, with 487,857 tonnes, dropped by 7.8%. On the other hand, the average price was of 1.12 €/kg, which represents an increase of 1.8%.
Vegetables have risen by 11.5% in volume and by 13.2% in the average price. In total, 561,584 tonnes were sold at an average price of 0,60 €/kg.
Is Mercabarna recovering its great importer profile?
For the last few years, imports have reached about 26% of the produce we receive. It will take time to get back to the figures prior to the crisis, when it was 38%. And exotic produce has been worst hit.
What are the increases in both the banana-plantain duet and in potatoes due to?
In recent years, companies dealing with important volumes that previously had not worked with this speciality have jumped onto the plantain bandwagon. There has been an 8.4% increase, reaching 118,222 tonnes. With regard to the potato handling companies, they have distributed 192,410 tonnes, an increase of 13.5% compared to 2014. This data is linked to the recovery of the potato, both in volume marketed and in price, after campaigns where its price experienced serious drops.
How has the export market behaved?
With a business figure that grows every year, exports from the food unit made up 35% of the volumes marketed in 2015. The Export Cluster, the close collaboration with the port of Barcelona and the momentum of the companies in Mercabarna, all play very important roles.
In this sense, the Cluster’s actions are aimed at making the wholesalers extend their scope of customers. The latest initiatives have promoted the activity of our companies at Fruit Attraction and Fruit Logistica, as well as in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Poland and Dubai, by way of direct and reverse trade missions. Likewise, new shipping and air routes have been promoted to encourage exports to different countries.
Once the first half of the year is over, do you have any data about how operations are doing?
The trend is completely positive, since over the first 5 months our volumes are 20% above last year. Obviously, although the market maintains a very positive tone with exports, we will not end the year with such good figures.
Is there a relaunching of local produce?
The figures traditionally show us that 20% of the produce sold in the Market is Catalonian. Local produce, understood as such, or rather, produce coming from the Llobregat or Maresme basin, is something else altogether.
On this point, we intend to upgrade these productions, modernising the area of the Market devoted to local farmers and to agricultural cooperatives.
We will also identify all the Catalonian production that is marketed in Mercabarna, both sold directly by the producers themselves and sold by wholesalers. All of this will be used to enhance the presence of local produce and promote its consumption.
Could you please explain what the Food Trade Center is?
In view of the growing presence of foreign buyers from all over Europe who periodically come to stock up on fruit and vegetables, Mercabarna has opened up this space within its facilities. Here offices may be leased for short periods of time with all the services and technologies that these traders might need.
What phase has the refurbishment work reached?
To date, the mains water supply network has been renewed. In September, the roofs of 2 halls will start to be changed; the low voltage electricity and lighting network will be renewed; the fire prevention systems will be improved and the restrooms will be refurbished. And all of this, without the activity being interrupted.
