The national exports of fruits, vegetables, and flowers have increased by 9.2% in value in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2024, reaching over 1.288 billion euros, according to Portugal Fresh.
The analysis by the sectorial association, based on data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), highlights that the volume of products sold in foreign markets also rose, now totaling over 837 million kilograms, marking an increase of 8.9% compared to the first half of the previous year.
Where are they going?
“The European Union is the main destination for fruits, vegetables, and flowers produced in the national territory,” stated the president of Portugal Fresh, Gonçalo Santos Andrade, emphasizing that “Portugal is increasingly competitive” and “offers differentiated products with food safety and immense quality.”
Meanwhile, imports of these products also rose by 9.5% to 1.486 billion euros, an increase of 128 million compared to 2024, with the volume of imports also growing from 1.240 billion kilograms to 1.380 billion kilograms (+11.2%).
“We need ambition and a solid commitment to unlock the enormous potential of the agricultural sector and reduce the weight of imports,” noted Gonçalo Santos Andrade.
To improve competitiveness in the sector, the leader advocated for the strategic necessity of cooperation among farmers and the concentration of supply, along with urgent investments in irrigation infrastructure and efficient water management.
Established in December 2010, Portugal Fresh — Association for the Promotion of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers of Portugal has 112 members representing about 5,000 farmers.
