European stone fruit production down 7% for next summer season

Europe is forecasting a 7% drop in peach and nectarine production for the 2025 season, with Greece seeing the sharpest decline. Weather-related losses may further revise figures down in countries like Spain
peach-and-nectarine

According to data presented today at Europêch, Europe is expected to fall short of its production potential, with a 2025 harvest forecast of 3.2 million tonnes of peaches and nectarines — 7% below the 2024 crop and 2% above the 2019–2023 average.

Greece is the country most affected by this decline. France and Italy foresee production levels below their optimal potential but stable compared to 2024. Forecasts for Spain indicate a slight drop from 2024, although a downward revision is possible at the end of June, once hail-related losses can be fully assessed.

Considering the overall lower availability in Europe and declining projections in Turkey, overproduction issues are not expected in the EU market during the campaign.

Greece

With nearly 607,000 tonnes of peaches and nectarines, Greece’s 2025 production is expected to fall 21% below 2024 levels, but still 17% above the 2019–2023 average, which had been marked by weather-related losses.

After three poor campaigns between 2021 and 2023, Greek production had returned to its normal potential last year (2024). However, this year, a cold spell during flowering (March to early April) caused significant damage to peaches, nectarines, clingstones, and cherries.

SPAIN

Spain experienced no major weather events during flowering, but a series of hailstorms from late March until recent days in Catalonia, Aragon, and Murcia have affected parts of the crop.

The impact of the most recent hailstorms has not yet been factored into current estimates and will need to be updated in the coming weeks.

With 1,441,000 tonnes of peaches, flat peaches, and nectarines, Spanish production is expected to be 5% lower than last year but 7% above the 2019–2023 average.

All four fruit types are expected to see declines between 4% and 7%, although projections vary by region.  Ebro Valley — Catalonia anticipates a 2% drop (376,780 t) year-on-year, while Aragon is expected to decline by 12% (442,529 t).

In earlier regions, downward forecasts have been recorded in Andalusia and the Valencia Region. In Murcia, current projections still reflect pre-hailstorm expectations (343,600 tonnes, similar to 2024), but the June forecast will confirm what the market already senses: that weather conditions have significantly reduced the available volumes.

ITALY

Compared to last year, Italy’s 2025 production is expected to remain broadly stable, with a forecast of 921,346 tonnes, including a slight drop in central-northern regions offset by growth in the south.

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Overall, peach and nectarine surface area continues to decline, even between 2024 and 2025 (-3% vs. 2024, -6% vs. 2023). The reduction is more pronounced for peaches than nectarines in central and northern regions, while southern regions show smaller declines and, in some cases, renewed planting activity.

FRANCE

French peach and nectarine production is estimated at around 236,000 tonnes — stable compared to 2024 and 18% above the 2019–2023 average.

At the national level, no major weather events have occurred, but rainy conditions during this year’s prolonged flowering have caused uneven fruit set across plots and, in some cases, slight shortages, which may result in production slightly below optimal potential.

French peach and nectarine output has stabilized over the past 4–5 years, thanks to improved orchards and a replanting rate close to 8%. Once again this year, production is expected to exceed 200,000 tonnes, ensuring good supply for the domestic market.

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