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The Impact Of The DANA Storm: Opportunities For Indonesian Processed Food To Meet Food Needs In Spain

Indonesian processed food products have the potential to help Spain meet its food needs as winter and the Christmas and New Year celebrations approach. Spain is currently facing food supply issues due to the Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos (DANA) storm that hit on Tuesday, October 29. This has caused flooding in several key agricultural areas in eastern and southern Spain, threatening food stocks.

Freddy Josep Pelawi, head of the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) in Barcelona, shared this information on Friday, November 1, in Barcelona, Spain.

"Processed food products are the most promising Indonesian commodities to assist Spain in overcoming the crisis caused by the flooding disaster. Spain follows strict European Union import regulations for food products. Indonesian businesses in the processed food sector should explore export opportunities to Spain and increase their exports there," said Josep.

Josep noted that the flood-affected areas in Spain are significant agricultural producers that contribute greatly to the country's food supply. He predicts that the supply of fresh vegetables and fruits may be disrupted due to damage in farming regions like Valencia, Murcia, and Malaga. On the other hand, Indonesia has the potential to export fresh fruits and vegetables to Spain, although distance and price competition may pose challenges.

"Exporting fresh fruits and vegetables from Indonesia to Spain is possible, but it faces challenges due to distance and costs. Spain is known for its relatively low cost of living, making price a crucial factor for entering the Spanish market," Josep explained.

He also mentioned that Indonesia has the capacity to export processed food products worth up to USD 6.5 billion globally. Specifically, in 2023, Indonesia exported processed food items such as canned fruits, vegetables, and various nuts to Spain, totaling USD 28.30 million.

In 2023, Indonesia had a trade surplus of USD 2.7 billion with Spain. Spain's demand for processed food products reached USD 1.90 billion, which it imports from around the world. On the other hand, Spain exported fresh fruits worth USD 10.60 billion and fresh vegetables worth USD 9.30 billion globally.

Impact of Storm DANA

Berlian Kusuma Wardani, Deputy Head of ITPC Barcelona, reported that Storm DANA caused severe damage in Spain, unprecedented for the country. As of October 31, 2024, there were 158 reported fatalities, with the highest number in Valencia at 155. Heavy rains also affected Murcia, Malaga, and Barcelona, leading to the suspension of public transport services like trains, metros, and buses for safety reasons. Spanish media reported that hundreds of cars were swept away by floods and suffered significant damage. "The impact of Storm DANA in Barcelona is starting to ease. As of November 1, Barcelona is still experiencing moderate rainfall," said Berlian.

On Thursday, October 31, the Spanish government declared a three-day national mourning period for the disaster. A rescue team of a thousand soldiers, along with local volunteers, was deployed to assist flood victims. This is the first time in Spain's history that flood-related fatalities due to severe weather have occurred. Similar flooding disasters happened in Germany and Belgium in 2021, resulting in 230 deaths.

Tag: Depresión Aislada En Niveles Altos Freddy Josep Pelawi Indonesian Trade Promotion Center