This week, the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers' Organizations from Almeria (Coexphal) presented a preview of the results of the 2024/25 fruit and vegetable season, which closed with a 13% increase in prices and a 3% increase in the volume marketed, as well as an increase in costs. However, the growth in Moroccan exports and the reactivation of the Netherlands and France, which threaten the stability of the market, are cause for concern.
According to Coexphal, an association integrated into Fepex, despite the variable weather conditions that marked the development of the season, the sector managed to partially recover from the hard blow suffered in the previous season, when prices and revenues fell by 17% and 12%, respectively.
As a result, the current season cannot be described as fully positive, as it simply returns the sector to the level reached two years ago (2022/23). "Returning us to the level reached two years ago is a firm step towards stabilizing the sector. It is encouraging to see that we've managed to increase sales for two consecutive years. Coexphal will continue to strengthen the competitiveness of Almeria's sector through innovation, biological control, improving energy efficiency, and defending fair commercial conditions against third countries," stated Juan Antonio González Real, president of Coexphal.
Production Costs
Production costs increased by 1.5% this season and are 30% higher than in the pre-COVID period. In general terms, the best performing products have been, in order: Aubergine, watermelon, pepper, and tomato. Aubergine and tomato prices were favoured by a lower supply in the market at specific moments. The strong demand for watermelon managed to absorb the increase in the volume marketed. Despite the notable presence of Thrips parvispinus, pepper sales increased slightly. This was possible thanks to the success of the biological control against this pest. The sector expects that biological control will be even more successful next season.
The vegetable with the worst price result was zucchini. Its price remained low for most of the season due to overproduction, except in the first weeks of autumn and in February and March.
Growing competition in the tomato market
The provisional data shows that Almeria's tomato export volume decreased by 1% in the 2024/25 season. Germany remains the main buyer, with a 36% share. It was followed by France, which increased its share slightly to 13%. As a novelty, Poland positioned itself as the third largest buyer, ahead of the Netherlands (10.6% and 10%, respectively). Purchases from the United Kingdom, the next customer, are down again and stood at only 22,000 tons, accounting for 5.4% of the total.
On a positive note, the value of Almeria's tomato exports grew by 6% compared to the previous season. This figure confirms that demand for Spanish tomatoes remains high and that the drop in sales volume, in many cases, is due to a shortage of supply because of cultivation issues. Meanwhile, Spanish imports from Morocco grew by 31%, filling the gaps that the national product cannot fill.
Luis Miguel Fernández, manager of Coexphal, expressed his concern about the advance of international competitors: "Morocco's pressure is increasingly evident. They have achieved a new export record, shipping almost 680,000 tons to the EU and the United Kingdom. In addition, the growth of its greenhouse area and the specialization in high-value varieties are displacing the national product at key moments of the season."
Officially, the main production area (Souss Massa) had 24,000 hectares of vegetable greenhouses in the 2024/25 season, 7,700 of which were exclusively devoted to producing tomatoes. However, a recent study by the Junta de Andalucía puts the total protected production at 33,360 hectares (a 17% increase in 2 years). Kenitra and Larache have an additional 11,230 hectares. Thus, according to calculations, there are more than 10,500 hectares of tomatoes in Souss Massa alone.
Fernández also spoke about the role of other competing countries: "The Netherlands has recovered its pre-crisis level, and its exports already exceed its productive capacity. France and Belgium are reinforcing their role as re-exporters, and Turkey continues to gain ground in Europe."
The Netherlands has been in positive territory for three consecutive years: it has recovered its pre-crisis level, which was triggered by the increase in the cost of energy. In just one year, its exports increased by 12% and approached one million tons, almost 20% more than its own production capacity. In 2024, the Netherlands increased its production by 14%, reaching 828,000 tons, in an area (1,726 hectares) that was 2% smaller than in 2023.
For more information: www.fepex.es
