The Spanish municipality of Montalbán recently hosted the general assembly of the National Garlic Board, during which a review was made of the production forecasts by areas, looking also at the market situation and prospects. As for the acreage, the number of hectares has increased and production stands close to last year's, with 203,000 tonnes at national level, 54,000 in Andalusia and approximately 30,000 tonnes in Cordoba.
Most of the attendees agreed that prices at origin and the market situation are still good at both local and international level, both in terms of remuneration to producers and in the pace of sales from the warehouse, because the market is empty.
There was also a current situation report with updated data on, for instance, the acreage, with an estimated 23,000 hectares in Spain compared to 21,000 in 2016; 5,000 in Andalusia, compared to 4,400 in 2015; and 2,600 hectares in Cordoba, compared to 1,900 hectares in 2015. At national level, the province of Cordoba is only second to Albacete, which has 7,000 hectares.
It was recalled that the 2016 campaign was excellent, among other reasons, because of the positive impact of the negative situation in China. It closed with 220,000 tonnes of garlic produced (+19% compared to 2015) in an area of about 21,000 hectares.
As for exports, a total volume of 162,623 tonnes was shipped to all destinations (EU and non-EU), which is 8% more than in 2015, with an increase in the average price of 0.70 €/Kg (2.30 € versus 1.70 €/kg), and a total value of exports of over € 375 million. Export growth has been notable in non-EU countries such as South Africa, the US, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Australia, but especially in the case of Taiwan, which has gone from 930 tonnes in 2015 to 14,789 tonnes in 2016.
Exports to all EU countries reached 98,631 tonnes, 2% less than in 2015. In 2016, the value of Spanish garlic exports to the EU market increased by 28%, with the average price rising from 1.70 €/kg in 2015 to 2.40 €/kg in 2016 and an export value of € 238 million. The most important destinations for exports to the EU, such as Italy, Portugal, Romania and Bulgaria, purchased a smaller volume than in 2015, but this was partially offset by growth in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, etc.
Meanwhile, imports of garlic into the EU were just slightly over 1,500 tonnes above those recorded in 2015, although their value was 31% higher than in 2015, reaching more than 110 M€, with an increase in the average price, which went from 1.40 €/kg in 2015 to 2 €/kg in 2016. By origin, there were increases in the import volume from Egypt, Peru and Chile, while Argentina and China recorded lower figures than in 2015.
Spain increased its imports by more than 2,000 tonnes (7,555 tonnes in 2016, compared to 5,243 tonnes in 2015), and the average price of these grew from 1.40 €/kg in 2015 to 1.70 €/kg in 2016. Most of the import flow comes from the EU (4,004 tonnes), with a greater presence of France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (re-exports in the last two cases). Non-EU origins account for 3,500 tonnes, with a greater presence of Peru and Chile. China remains the main supplier of the Spanish market (2,080 tonnes), along with France (2,000 tonnes).
Overall, Spanish imports of garlic from all origins increased by 37% in volume and 65% in value, reaching € 12.8m.
Source: agronewscastillayleon.com
