Volumes up almost 15 per cent year-on-year, with South Africa, Turkey, and Egypt leading the charge
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture says record imports of fresh citrus into the European Union are putting unprecedented pressure on domestic producers.
Official data shows that the EU has imported 1.57mn tonnes of citrus so far this season, an increase of 14.9 per cent on last year and a record high for this time of year, with South Africa, Turkey, and Egypt leading the charge.
According to the ministry, fruit from these origins enters the EU market with schedules that partially overlap with Spanish production, particularly in late-season oranges and mandarins. It says every imported tonne of citrus entering the market before or during the peak of the Spanish harvest takes up shelf space and influences prices at the source.
While the Ministry did not provide a price breakdown in its report, it said competition from non-EU countries puts pressure on a sector already grappling with high production costs and thin profit margins for many growers.
This commercial pressure particularly impacts the regional economies of Valencia, Andalusia and Murcia.
The publication of full-season statistics in the coming months will show whether this record represents an anomaly or merely a new benchmark for the sector.
