During the meeting, participants gave a very positive assessment of the campaign from a quality perspective. The area planted in Spain this year remained stable compared with the previous season, although it is still far from the nearly 30,000 hectares cultivated in 2022. This year, the figure stands at just over 24,000 hectares.
The harvested garlic shows excellent health and commercial quality, allowing the sector to offer the market a high-value product with a well-established reputation. In terms of yields, Spring garlic has recovered the production levels lost in previous campaigns due to weather-related issues, while Purple garlic, despite its excellent quality, ultimately recorded yields slightly below the high expectations set at the beginning of the season.
Concern over rising imports into the EU
One of the central issues addressed during the meeting was the situation of the European garlic market. Over the last decade, garlic imports from third countries into the European Union have increased significantly, rising by 128.4% to reach 111,812 tonnes.
These imports come mainly from China, with 74,231 tonnes and an increase of 98.1%, and Egypt, with 19,555 tonnes, up 390.3%. This trend has raised growing concern among producers due to its impact on market balance and farm profitability.
ANPCA to promote a safeguard clause request
In response to this situation, the association agreed to promote the necessary work to request the activation of the erga omnes safeguard clause for European garlic. This mechanism, provided for under European Union trade rules, would make it possible to assess the impact of these imports and, where appropriate, correct market imbalances.
As part of this process, a proposal was presented for a survey aimed at producers and sector organisations in different Member States.
The objective is to gather the economic, production and commercial information required by national authorities and the European Commission to technically support the request for activation of the safeguard clause.
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ANPCA underlines the importance of participation from the entire sector in order to build a solid, objective and representative database. This would make it possible to demonstrate the damage that the increase in imports is causing to European production and to support the request before EU institutions.
A coordinated defence of European garlic
The association reaffirmed its commitment to continue working in coordination with the national sector and its European counterparts to defend the competitiveness of European garlic and ensure the viability of a strategic crop for many rural areas.
