The fruit and vegetable business in Spain is experiencing a particularly dynamic period . The last fiscal year has seen a significant increase in the value generated in the fields and a notable boost in foreign trade, consolidating the country's position as one of Europe's leading fruit and vegetable producers.
According to provisional data from the DBK Sector Observatory of Informa, the value of fruit and vegetable production reached €28.150 billion in 2025, representing a 14,9% increase compared to the previous year. This growth is driven by both rising prices and strong international demand, particularly within the European Union.
Evolution of production value: the pull of fruit
Within the sector as a whole, fruit has been the main driver of growth . The value of its production rose to €15.016 billion, representing a 24,1% increase compared to the previous year. This growth is largely due to higher prices and strong demand in international markets.
The vegetable sector also registered positive growth, albeit more moderate. The value of horticultural production reached €13.134 billion , after increasing by 5,9% compared to the previous year. However, the physical volume sold decreased by 1,2%, indicating that the growth in revenue is primarily driven by prices rather than an increase in production quantity.
Taken together, this combination of higher economic value and slight adjustments in volume points to an environment marked by cost pressures, inflation, and a shift in supply towards higher value-added products. The sector has been forced to adapt to a context of higher energy, logistics, and input costs, passing on some of these increases to the final price.
Data compiled by the DBK Observatory of Informa, a subsidiary of Cesce, shows that Spanish fruit and vegetable farming maintains its resilience in the face of market volatility. The overall value of €28.150 billion places the sector at a historically high level and reinforces its importance within total agricultural production.
| Sector Indicator (2025) | Value (Millions €) | Annual Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Total production of fruits and vegetables | 28.150 | + 14,9 % |
| Total exports | 18.569 | + 6,0 % |
| Fruit exports | 10.548 | + 8,8 % |
| Vegetable exports | 8.021 | + 2,5 % |
| Total imports | 5.203 | + 13,2 % |
Exports at record highs and a prolonged growth cycle
Foreign trade remains one of the sector's mainstays. Spanish fruit and vegetable exports reached €18.569 billion in 2025 , representing a 6% increase over the previous year. This figure confirms the strength of Spanish agricultural exports and their alignment with EU demand.
The DBK Sector Observatory report highlights that, since the brief decline recorded in 2014, exports have seen eleven consecutive years of growth . During this period, the value of foreign sales has increased by approximately 75%, consolidating Spain's position as one of the leading suppliers of fresh fruit and vegetables in Europe.
By segment, fruit accounts for the most dynamic part of the foreign trade . Its exports grew by 8,8%, reaching €10.548 billion. Vegetables, meanwhile, advanced by 2,5%, totaling €8.021 billion. This difference in growth rate once again highlights the greater prominence of the fruit segment, both in terms of production value and export capacity.
This pattern of sustained export growth reflects a combination of factors: stable demand in key European markets, improved logistics, varietal adaptability, and increased professionalization of marketing . All of this allows Spanish companies to maintain their presence on European supermarket shelves despite growing competition from other origins.
The European Union as a key market and the role of Morocco
The European Union remains the natural destination for Spanish fruit and vegetable production. According to sector analysis, 84% of fruit exports and 79% of vegetable exports are destined for EU member states . This strong concentration in the European market underscores the extent to which the sector depends on the evolution of domestic EU demand.
Among the importing countries, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom remain the main customers for Spanish fruits and vegetables. These markets absorb a significant portion of exports, both for seasonal products and for more stable year-round supplies, thanks to the production capacity of regions such as Andalusia, Murcia, the Valencian Community, and Aragon.
On the import side, Spanish fruit and vegetable imports reached €5.203 billion in 2025, an increase of 13,2%. Although the country remains a net exporter, the volume of purchases from abroad shows a significant increase, linked to the diversification of the product range in supermarkets and the deseasonalization of consumption.
In this context, Morocco has established itself as one of the major suppliers to the Spanish market . The North African country accounts for 42% of Spain's imported vegetables and 19% of its imported fruit. Its geographical proximity, trade agreements, and relatively low production costs have boosted its presence in Spain's trade balance.
This situation reinforces the agricultural interdependence between both sides of the Mediterranean and, at the same time, fuels a recurring debate within the sector regarding competition from third countries . While some operators highlight the opportunities for complementarity and continuous supply, others warn of the potential impact these imports could have on the prices and profitability of certain domestic crops.
Business structure and concentration of operators
The DBK Observatory report also focuses on the sector's internal organization. Spanish fruit and vegetable production is still characterized by a large base of small and medium-sized farms , highly fragmented and spread across different autonomous communities. However, in recent years there has been a clear trend towards integration and partnership models.
It is increasingly common for farmers to join together in producer organizations, cooperatives, and marketing companies to increase their volume, improve their negotiating power with large retailers, and optimize processes such as sorting, packaging, and logistics. This evolution also allows them to undertake technological and sustainability investments that would be difficult to make individually.
In specialized wholesale trade, the degree of concentration is higher. The report's data indicates that the top ten operators in the sector have a combined turnover of nearly €7.400 billion . If the scope is broadened, the top twenty exceed €10.000 billion, and the top thirty surpass €12.200 billion in combined sales.
These figures confirm the growing importance of large companies and marketing groups, which act as true backbones of the supply chain , connecting producers with international markets and major European retailers. At the same time, their size allows them to invest in quality systems, certifications, and advanced logistics—key aspects for competing in a global environment.
The sector operates across a broad territorial base. The area dedicated to fruit and vegetable cultivation is around 1.838.000 hectares , in a scenario marked by the search for efficiency in water use , adaptation to climate change, and the need to maintain profitability in a context of rising costs and increasing regulatory demands.
A strategic sector undergoing profound transformation
Beyond the revenue figures, the 2025 outlook confirms that fruits and vegetables have become a strategic pillar of the Spanish agri-food economy . Export dynamism, the strength of the European market, and the ability of businesses to reorganize themselves explain much of this performance.
The eleven-year cycle of consecutive export growth paints a picture in which Spain is reinforcing its role as a stable supplier of high-quality fresh produce , especially during times of the year when other producing countries have lower supply. This competitive advantage is based on both favorable weather conditions and the professionalization of the production areas.
At the same time, the increasingly significant presence of suppliers like Morocco in imports highlights that the fruit and vegetable market is now fully global , with supply chains routinely crossing borders. For the Spanish sector, this presents an additional challenge: maintaining its position in foreign markets without losing ground in its own domestic market.
Taken together, the projected value of €28.150 billion for fruit and vegetable production in 2025, the surge in exports to €18.569 billion, and the increasing degree of business concentration paint a picture of profound change, but also of opportunity . The sector's ability to continue adapting to new demands regarding price, sustainability, and quality will be key to maintaining this momentum in the coming years.
