Is there a risk of a shortage of citrus fruit?

The deadly floods in Spain left a desolate landscape in their wake. While the rescue efforts continue, the agricultural sector is still reeling. Several thousands of hectares of fields and greenhouses have been destroyed. Every year, France imports huge quantities of Spanish fruit and vegetables, including citrus fruit. At the start of the week, several French retailers were reporting supply problems, including Carrefour, which was informing its customers of possible unavailability of fruit and vegetables on its drive application. Is there a risk of a shortage of citrus fruit?

Xavier Rosario, head of Louis Rosario, a Perpignan-based company, gives an overview of the situation and also expresses his solidarity with the tragedy in the Valencian region. "With all my family in the Valencia region, I would like to spare a thought for all the Valencian families affected by this disaster, which is unprecedented in Spain - Fuerza Valencia!"

"We have to wait a fortnight"
"We have no idea what is to come, this is really unprecedented," explains Xavier Rosario. "We do not have any visibility, so we will have to wait at least a fortnight for better visibility. The Valencia region, the whole area from Requena to the south, will definitely be problematic." While several French national media are talking about future shortages on the shelves, Xavier is more cautious. "There will certainly be a significant drop in volumes for a number of products, including citrus fruit, but I do not think we should talk about a shortage. The situation is much more problematic for persimmons," with losses of persimmons close to 80% in the Valencia region, according to the Spanish interprofession. "Valencia is certainly a major citrus-producing area, but there are also oranges and clementines in Andalusia, Murcia and Alicante."

Right: © Louis Rosario

"You have to bear in mind the domino effect"
"The difficulty does not only lie in production," explains Xavier. "There is a domino effect. Almost all workers no longer have any means of transport, and many warehouses have also been damaged. Logistics have been severely disrupted because the roads have been cut off, and the Guardia Civil has asked that the roads be kept clear so that emergency services can get through. Flows from Portugal and Morocco have also been severely disrupted, as they can no longer cross to France."

South African orange prices on the rise
Unsurprisingly, the drop in volumes on the market has pushed prices to increase. "The demand is turning to imported products, and prices are rising rapidly," explains Xavier. "Oranges from South Africa already rose up 20 cents yesterday."

Index photo credit: AVA ASAJA - Asociación Valenciana de Agricultores