The garlic harvesting campaign is in full swing in Italy and Spain, and the outlook is positive thus far, particularly in terms of quality and yield. Antonio Tuccillo, the administrator of Agrimpex Farming, a company based in the Campania region, takes stock of the season thus far and emphasizes the good results obtained.
"Our crops in Campania have yielded excellent results for both our white and early purple garlic," Tuccillo explains. "The elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) stood out particularly for its quality and size. Later varieties of white garlic from French seed show satisfactory production in terms of quantity and quality. The weather played a crucial role in this, favoring the ripening and harvesting phases."
Italian production of Agrimpex Farming
The company targets the fruit and vegetable markets of central and southern Italy, where sales have depleted stock rapidly. "We have almost run out of stock," Tuccillo adds. "Now, we are waiting for production from northern Italy. These include the provinces of Rovigo, Piacenza, and Ferrara."
Spain is on our radar, as are prices and competition
Regarding prices, the situation is quite complex. The first quotations were acceptable considering the competition from Egyptian products," says the entrepreneur. In the meantime, Spanish farmers have begun harvesting the early crop and are drying and processing it. Thanks to the favorable climate, higher quality than last year is expected for the white and purple types here as well.
Egypt conquers Europe
Egypt played a pivotal role in this phase, gaining significant market share in Europe due to its high-quality, affordable garlic. "The absence of Chinese garlic has paved the way for Egyptian garlic, which is plentiful and of excellent quality this year. Production has almost doubled," notes Tuccillo. "Currently, European wholesalers' warehouses are stocked with Egyptian purple garlic, resulting in an imbalance in the market."
Italian production by Agrimpex Farming
China and the fear of a price collapse
What is happening in China is crucial as well. The harvest is nearly finished, especially in major provinces like Shandong. The results there are also very good. The garlic is white and purple, and it is of good quality and size. However, production has increased by 30% compared to last year, which poses a significant problem.
This situation is causing concern in Europe. "If Chinese prices remain below USD 900–1,000 per ton (FOB), world prices will plummet. Despite the various duties and barriers imposed in different regions, Chinese products that make it through customs can still be highly competitive and negatively impact European production."
Italian production at Agrimpex Farming
An uncertain international scenario
To understand the full situation, it is also important to consider the uncertainties related to the United States' trade policy. It is unclear what decisions the Trump administration will make regarding tariffs, which could affect European exports.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the market's direction. "The hope," Tuccillo concludes, "is that prices will be profitable for producers but not so high as to encourage imports from non-EU countries. It's a challenge that is once again playing out on a global scale."
For more information:
agrimpexfarming.it