Export costs to the UK rise after Brexit –

The UK was the third most important destination for Spanish fruit and vegetable exports, and during the first quarter of this year, it achieved 6% growth in the value of shipments.

These shipments amounted to 675 million euros ($824,478,750).

However, this country’s exit from the European Union has increased the administrative costs of managing shipments and documentary procedures.

According to FEPEX, the Spanish Federation of Associations of Producers of Exporters of Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers and Live Plants, despite the increase in the value of exports, the volumes decreased during the indicated period by 6%, reaching 461,666 tons.

This is according to the latest data updated by the Customs and Excise Department of the Spanish Tax Authority.

Regarding shipping costs to the UK, Vipex noted, “Since January 1 of this year, the exporting companies have been processing the Customs Declaration (DUA) and Certificate of Conformity with Marketing Standards.”

At the moment, the organization stated that it is working on analyzing the challenges facing Spanish companies, although due to the recent situation, there is still no specific information on this topic.

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According to various Spanish media, horticultural exports were not the only affected, industries such as oil or meat were also accused of problems at the destination.

As reported by the media IberianAnd the Olive Times reported, “Spanish olive oil exports to the UK fell by 35% in the first two months of 2021, compared to the same months of 2020.”

They emphasized that these figures were provided by the Union of Farmers and Ranchers of Spain (UPA) and represented, they said, one of the first studies on the impact of Brexit between the European Union and London on Spanish agri-food exports to the United Kingdom.

while there is a file trade agreement which came into effect in April between the UK and the EU, challenges related to shipments did not make it possible to facilitate exports for Spanish producers.

The situation adds to the difficult first quarter that Spain experienced, with a 3.5% drop in the volume of shipments to destination markets, as reported by the Customs and Excise Administration in mid-May.