In the province of Almería, greenhouses set the pace for this crop: 89% of exports are destined for European markets, and nearly eight out of every ten courgettes exported by Spain during the first half of the year come from Almería’s greenhouses.
Protected horticulture represents the most dynamic sector of Andalusian agriculture, both for its economic productivity and export orientation. The total protected cultivation area spans 58,576 hectares (including Huelva’s macro-tunnels), of which 58% correspond to Almería’s protected horticultural crops.
In this context, courgette ranks fourth in cultivated area and fifth in production and value among Almería’s greenhouse crops. This is no coincidence: 99% of marketed production corresponds to the green courgette type, both in volume and economic value.
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Between January and June 2025, Almería exported over 200 million kilos of courgettes, representing 76.96% of Spain’s total exports during that period. Other key producing regions were Valencia (over 11 million kilos) and Murcia (over 10 million kilos).
Keys to understanding Spain’s leadership
- Domestic and foreign market: Spain not only supplies its domestic consumers but has also built a robust export capacity — 97% of its fruit and vegetable exports are directed to European markets.
- Regional specialisation: Almería stands as the epicentre of green courgette production, thanks to its favourable climate, concentration of protected crops and strong export orientation.
- Uniform production: The dominance of green courgette (99% of total output) provides efficiency in management, logistics and marketing.
- Logistical and proximity advantage: Exporting from Almería to the EU ensures shorter transit times, better freshness, and greater added value for demanding markets.
- Challenges ahead: Despite its leadership, the sector faces ongoing challenges such as extra-European competition, rising production costs (energy, water, fertilisers), generational renewal on farms, and the need to diversify export destinations.
