The first part of the Spanish orange and clementine season, which will come to an end at the end of this month, has been impacted by great difficulties for growers and marketers, who have paid the consequences of the abundant rains, result of the recent storms, as well as the pressure on prices from the last lots of overseas oranges, still present in the European markets in December.
The storms and floods hit the most important citrus producing areas, directly affecting kaki plantations, as well as oranges and clementines. "Although the torrential rains have caused some direct production losses, one of the biggest problems the sector has been facing over the last month has been complaints at destination due to the impact on fruit quality, especially in varieties such as the Clemenules, the most widely planted clementine, as well as early Navelina oranges," says Miguel Agustín, Sales Director of the Valencian company Nostra Fruita.
"The persistent rainfall prevented harvesting tasks, so many stores were left without any fruit in storage and a strong demand, forcing many to harvest with excess humidity. Then complaints started to arrive at destination and from different links of the chain," says the trader.
According to Miguel Agustín, this has been a generalized problem and the degree of incidents has varied depending on the variety. It has even happened to traders. "We've had a few very difficult weeks, in which we've had to be very picky with the suppliers. We've been able to manage the situation relatively well, bearing in mind that we handle around 50 million kilos a year."
Although the number of incidents is already dropping, the retailer says that this situation has had a negative impact on orange and clementine consumption and caused a slowdown in sales. "There has been stagnation in the demand, with the exception of the special packaging formats intended for St. Nicholas celebrations in Northern Europe."
The great losses suffered by Clemenules producers in the Valencian Community and the south of Tarragona will most probably mean that the season will be shorter this year. In fact, in some growing areas, the Clemenvilla has already started to be harvested, significantly ahead of last year.
Nonetheless, although the quality problems caused by the rains have had a notable impact in general, Miguel Agustín highlights the overlap between the start of the Spanish orange season and the last batches from overseas as a very hard blow for the sector.
"In December, there are still stocks of South African Valencia and Cambria oranges being sold at rock bottom prices, both in the main markets in Spain and in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy or Portugal. It is impossible to compete with such low prices; prices that cannot be profitable for those who supply these products," says the trader.
"In September, South African oranges were scarce and sold at a very high price, but Valencia oranges were delayed, and large volumes arrived in mid-October at high prices. These prices started to plummet as the Spanish season began. As a result, orange sales are at a standstill and the sector is looking ahead to the coming months with uneasiness and uncertainty, as Egyptian oranges are now starting to arrive on the markets. The truth is that the prospects for the Spanish orange season don't seem good this year," says Nostra Fruita's Sales Director.
For more information:
Miguel Agustín
Nostra Fruita SL
Tel.: +34 615 22 57 31
[email protected]