Spain: Drop in acreage for garlic plantations expected

ASAJA Cordoba organised its traditional meeting for the garlic sector, in which the province's main producers, led by the sectorial president, Miguel del Pino, have taken part. The event served to conduct a balance of the campaign and analyse the current situation of the market, with growers estimating next year's campaign to bring a 20-25% drop in the acreage for garlic plantations. Another issue under scrutiny was the problem caused by the illegal entry of Chinese garlic into the European Union (EU), which has contributed to the collapse of prices during the current campaign.

Regarding prices, Chinese garlic has pushed prices in the EU to much lower levels than the 2€/kilo at origin with which the campaign started, which makes it near impossible for Cordoba's producers to be able to compete. In any case, Miguel del Pino reminded that only 7% of the Chinese garlic can legally enter the EU under the currently-established contingent, "which proves that more and stricter controls from the administrations are needed to prevent the illegal entry of garlic which is causing that imbalance."

In any case, the sector expects prices at the beginning of the campaign to remain similar to last season's, due, among other factors, to the estimated drop in the acreage.

Source: Abc.es