IMPORT OF PEPPER BY SPAIN

 

IMPORT OF PEPPER BY SPAIN

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is located in Europe with its continental European territory situated on the Iberian Peninsula. Its territory also includes two archipelagoes: the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, and the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, making Spain the only European country to have a physical border with an African country (Morocco). Furthermore, Spain actively imports pepper from various pepper producing countries for domestic consumption or for re-export.

In 2018, Spain was reported to have imported a total 5,275 Mt of pepper which 90% or 4,753 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper while 10% or 523 Mt of it was ground pepper. The average import of pepper by Spain in 2018 was reported to be 440 Mt per month with the highest quantity recorded in April with 580 Mt. The total expenditure of pepper import by Spain was reported to be as high as USD 21.3 Million, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Spain at USD 3,865 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 5,654 Per Mt for ground pepper.

Year 2019 saw an increasing trend in term of quantity of pepper imported by Spain. Spain was reported to have imported a total of 5,789 Mt which 80% or 4,628 Mt of it comprised of whole pepper and 20% or 1,161 Mt of it was ground pepper. Thus, recording an increase of 10% when compared to the same period in 2018. The average pepper imported by Spain was reported at 482 Mt per month which peaked in January with 566 Mt. Although increasing in terms of quantity, Spain's expenditure of pepper import was reported with a decrease of 15% to a total of USD 18.1 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Spain at USD 3,276 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 2,587 per Mt for ground pepper or a decrease by 15% and 54% respectively as compared to 2018.

As of May 2020, Pepper import by Spain was reported with an increase of 7% as compared to the same period in 2019, totaling at 2,708 Mt which comprised of 82% or 2,233 Mt of whole pepper and 18% or 474 Mt of ground pepper. The total expenditure of pepper import by Spain as of May 2020 was reported with a decrease of 7% when compared to the same period in the previous year, totaling at USD 7.5 Million. Thus, recording an average price of the total pepper imported by Spain at USD 2,694 per Mt for whole pepper and USD 3,169 per Mt for ground pepper.

The top five countries of origins of Spain's pepper as of May 2020 were reported to be Viet Nam with 1,085 Mt (an increase of 33% as compared to the same period in 2019), Brazil with 656 Mt (an increase of 56%), Indonesia with 207 Mt (an increase of 31%), Netherlands with 140 Mt (a decrease of 35%) and Belgium with 136 Mt (a decrease of 23%). The decreased of Spain import from Netherlands and Belgium could be contributed to Spain preference of importing from origins countries which offered more competitive price such as Viet Nam (an increase by 266 Mt as compared to the same period in 2019), Brazil (236 Mt) and Indonesia (49 Mt).