Falling production and low prices for almonds in Spain

The drought and heat waves during the summer have reduced production forecasts for the almond campaign, with declines of up to 15% in some dry areas, accompanied by low prices at source that do not cover production costs, according to producers. The campaign has already begun in several parts of the country, especially in dry areas; along the Mediterranean, in Aragon, Catalonia, in the province of Almeria and in Castilla-La Mancha, although it has also begun in recent weeks in other irrigated and intensively cultivated areas. At the beginning of the summer, the agricultural organisations Asaja, COAG, Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España and Aeofruse set the estimated production of almond kernels at 122,304 tonnes, which was 8% more than last season's harvest. However, they have had to lower these forecasts due to the effects of the drought and the heat waves that the plantations have suffered, as explained to Efeagro by the head of nuts at COAG, Javier Fatás. In the dry areas ...