The Lettuce Committee of Fepex convened recently in Murcia to review the 2023/2024 campaign, which has seen notable success in its first half and highlighted significant growth in exports and varietal diversification. During this meeting, Cecilio Peregrín was appointed as the committee's new president.
The committee reported a substantial increase in lettuce exports, with 292,452 tons shipped in the first quarter of the year, marking a 7.4% rise compared to the same period in 2023. Iceberg lettuce remains the dominant export variety, representing about 50% of the total shipments.
The campaign exhibited a strong start with healthy volumes and stable prices, although the second half, spanning from December to May, experienced some variability in prices and product availability. There was also a noted decrease in consumption, particularly of butterhead lettuce, as observed by Cecilio Peregrín, who expressed enthusiasm for his new role and commitment to advancing the sector.
In 2023, Spain exported 783,979 tons of lettuce, a slight 1% decline from the previous year. However, the value of these exports grew by 11%, reaching 920 million euros. Lettuce stands as Spain's second most exported vegetable and third in terms of export value. Murcia leads as the top producing and exporting region, contributing 67% of the national total with 525,673 tons exported in 2023. Andalusia, particularly Almeria, follows with 18% of the total exports, and Alicante contributes 3%.
The Sectoral Committees of Fepex, including the Lettuce Committee of Murcia, play a crucial role in addressing the challenges and opportunities within each crop sector, proposing measures to enhance production, marketing, and promotion. The Lettuce Committee comprises key associations from regions where this crop is most prominent, including Proexport, Coexphal, and Fexphal.
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