Spain: Proexport expects decrease in melon export from Murcia

Due to a production surplus, caused by high temperatures, rural Murcia has seen a drop in prices of watermelons. A radical change in the sector is expected, says Proexport, the union of producers and exporters of fruit and vegetables in the Murcia region.

After a broad discussion with the sector’s companies and cooperations, Proexport expects a 40 to 55% decrease of the regional produce of watermelons in the coming weeks: a decrease that will likely lead to a rapid adjustment of demand. Many retailers are aware of the situation and are adapting their purchase policy, trusting the region’s quality of output will be consistent.

“As a result of high temperatures, the ripening process is accelerated,” says Laureano Montesinos, chairman of Proexport’s watermelon section. “Therefore the harvest of melons has been moved to the second half of June.”

Despite a horrendous start of the season, Proexport says most producers of watermelons expect to be mostly compensated when the balance is made up by the end of the summer. The prognosis is that the melon crop of the Murcia region will continue to the end of August, that of the watermelon to the end of September.

“As most people know, the start of the Murcia campaign was characterised by a strong increase of national output, due to rising temperatures. Unfortunately, this unexpected increase did not live up to rising consumption demands in Europe, mostly because of heavy rainfall in Middle and Northern Europe during the summer,” explains Montesinos. Fact is that the UK, one of the most important customers of Murcia agriculture, had the wettest month of June in 50 years.

The situation at hand disrupted the balance between supply and demand, creating two very unfortunate consequences for rural Murcia: a fall of prices and increased competition.

Export numbers

Spain saw a melon export of 376,583 tons in 2010. The Murcia region has a melon export share of 45% of the national total, and a 25% share for watermelons. From Proexport related companies, about 44% of the melon, and 35% of the watermelon supply originates in the Murcia region.

Although most export destinations will take all sorts of melons, many have their preferences. 57% of the yellow melon export heads for the UK, while 34% of the Gallia goes to Germany. France and the UK share 56% of the cantaloupe, 77% of the ordinary melon goes to Belgium, Switzerland or France. Spain takes up 45% of the watermelon and over 65% of the Piel de sapo variety.

Source: PROEXPORT