What initially looked like a problematic season due to a lack of product and quality caused by multiple storms in Catalonia is now turning into a smooth and steady campaign, with prices 25% higher than in 2024. The supply from other Mediterranean countries is also moderate.
According to Afrucat estimates, the harvest forecast is around 4% lower in volume than the 2024 season and has already been revised down another 2% from initial predictions due to the impact of eight hailstorms that hit various areas locally.
However, compared to the average of the last five years, production is 13% higher, as there were years with very low output due to frost and hail, such as in 2022. “So far, this year’s weather adversities came early, between April and May. While some farmers suffered direct losses, others were affected before thinning operations, so they were able to recover their yields reasonably well,” says Manel Simon, director of Afrucat.
The stone fruit season wrapped up with steady sales and good prices in Murcia and Extremadura. The transition to northern Spain—Catalonia and Aragón, which account for the largest share of production—has continued with the same momentum and a solid balance between supply and demand.
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“High temperatures across Europe are fuelling strong consumption of stone fruit. Moreover, although harvests are recovering in other countries, there is still no sign of an abundant supply. In addition, third countries supplying the eastern zone—such as Turkey—have suffered losses of up to 50% in some stone fruit varieties,” explains Simon.
“As a result, prices have remained solid since the start of the season, averaging 25% higher than last year during the same period. In the past two weeks, some references—such as small-calibre nectarines for basket formats—have even seen upward trends. There are virtually no stocks; we’re moving product daily, and that’s a very good sign for summer fruit. In some formats, we’re short on supply, so we prioritise our most loyal customers,” the executive notes. “We expect this favourable market situation to continue in the coming weeks of August.”
