Spain produced 1.8 million tons of stone fruits this season, i.e. 3% more than last year and 9% more than the average of the past five seasons, reported Elena Busutil, the Director General of Agricultural Productions and Markets of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Elena Busutil, at a meeting she held yesterday with the heads of the main associations in the sector, including FEPEX.
By products, the increase in apricot production stands out with a forecast production of 152,929 tons as of 30 June, 41% more than in 2023 and 26% compared to the average of the last five seasons. Cherry production grew to 137,183 tons, i.e. 31% over the previous year and 25% over the average. Peach production also increased to 856,574 tons, 2% more than in 2023 and 9% more than the average.
Estimates for the nectarine season put production at 514,181 tons, which is 5% lower than in 2023 but 7% higher than the average for the last five seasons. Plum production decreased to 154,921 tons, 5% less than in the previous season and 8% lower than the average of the last five years, according to the data provided by the MAPA.
The country's stone fruit exports increased for all products in this category, except plums. According to data from the Customs and Excise Department, up to July 2024, Spanish stone fruit exports stood as follows:
Nectarine: 194,253 tons (+17%) and 305.5 million euros (+9%).
Donut peach: 124,680 tons (+21%) and 200 million euros (+21%).
Peach: 82,478 tons (+5%) and 127.5 million euros (+5%).
Apricot: 83.593 tons (+30%) and 153 million euros (+22%).
Cherry: 37,311 tons (+18%) and 132 million euros (+1%).
Plum: 33,066 tons (-8%) and 57 million euros (-3%).
According to MAPA, the area devoted to melon and watermelon production this year stood at 16,114 and 21,202 hectares, respectively. These areas are slightly lower than in the previous season. Despite this decrease in area, watermelon production is expected to stand at 1,205,555 tons, 5% higher than last season.
The forecasts for the pome fruit season (apple and pear) that began this September were also discussed at the meeting. Initial estimates suggest that the country will produce around 807,807 tons of these fruits, i.e. 1% less than last season and 8% less than the average of the past five seasons.
Of that amount, 555,280 tons correspond to apples (464,151 tons to table apples and 91,129 tons to cider apples), i.e. 5% more than in 2023 and almost the same (-1%) than the average of the previous five years. In contrast, forecasts are the country will produce around 252,500 tons of pears, which is 12% less than in the 2023/24 season and 16% lower than the average of the last five seasons.
According to the MAPA, the most significant reduction will occur in the main producing area. Catalonia's pear production will fall by 37% compared to the average and the previous season, particularly in Lleida, where fruit trees are suffering this season from the water stress caused by last year's drought.
For more information: www.fepex.es