The president of the Mesa Nacional del Ajo (National Garlic Board), Julio Bacete, has reported a slight 5% increase in garlic plantings and has also positively assessed the productive and commercial results achieved in 2016.
Spanish garlic has been favoured by the situation that China has suffered for the second consecutive year, strongly determined by speculative operations in its market, which have resulted in high prices and shortages in the international market.
Production levels in excess of 200,000 tonnes
For its part, Spain has once again reached the productive levels recorded more than three decades ago and exceeded 200,000 tonnes and 21,000 hectares planted across the country.
As for exports, data from COMEXT reveals that over 150,000 tonnes have been shipped; 5% more than in 2015, and the average price has increased by 0.70 €/kg (reaching 2.30 €, compared to 1.70 €/kg), with a total value of exports of more than 350 million Euro.
Moreover, there has been an increase of exports to countries outside the EU, such as South Africa, the US, Brazil, Canada, Brazil, Japan or Australia, but the most spectacular growth has been achieved in Taiwan.
As for exports to the EU market, the volume has been very similar to that recorded in 2015, with a total of around 100,000 tonnes, but the value has increased by 27%.
As regards imports, Spain has increased them to 7,200 tonnes, compared to 5,200 tonnes in 2015. The average price has also increased, from 1.40 €/kg in 2015 to 1.70 €/kg in 2016.
Most of the import flow comes from the EU (3,700 tonnes), mostly from France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (exports in the last two). Imports from third countries account for 3,500 tonnes, with Peru and Chile as the largest suppliers, while China continues to be the main supplier of the Spanish market (2,000 tonnes), along with France (1,850 tonnes).
Source: ajoespañol.net
