<p></p><p>Last January, Almeria's dried fruit sector exported 387 tonnes of almonds; an 18% increase compared to 2012.</p> <p>From these sales, the sector's companies obtained a 2.8 million Euro turnover; 73.7% more than in January 2012. The almond sector is the province's ninth largest exporter, with a 1% market share.By value, Almeria is Andalusia's largest exporter, as well as Spain's fourth, only behind Tarragona, Alicante and Albacete, with 8.3% of the country's quota, as highlighted by the regional delegate of Andalusia's Council of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, José Manuel Ortiz. </p><p>Italy was the main destination for Almeria's almonds, importing 60% of the produce (126% more than last year), followed by Germany, with 24.4% (-9%); France, with 11.6% and the UK, with 4.4%, according to data elaborated by EXTENDA from the latest Datacomex report.In January, Almeria's expenditure in almond imports was of 2.1 million Euro (2.12% more). 100% of these were shipped from the United States. </p><p><b>Lower production volumes, but more value</b> </p><p>Last year, Almeria's dried fruit sector harvested 6,600 tonnes of almonds; a 25.7% drop in production volumes; however, this circumstance entailed a 66% increase in the product's value (1.7 Euro/kilo), which is twice as much as five years ago. The total value of the province's almond production stood at 11.34 million Euro; 23.5% more than in 2012.</p> <p>This drop in production volumes was caused by a series of incidents, such as frosts in February and March, which affected the early flowering varieties; problems with the flowering as a result of constant rains, and the exhaustion of some plantations as a consequence of drought periods in previous years, which reduced the average yield.Almonds are the province's most extended crop, distributed mostly between the regions of Alto Almanzora and Los Vélez. </p><p> </p><br><p></p><br>