Spanish lemon interprofessional Ailimpo has released its first forecasts for 2014/15 which point to a similar crop to last season. Output is projected to reach 970,000 tonnes compared to 994,000 tonnes in 2013/14, provided there is sufficient rainfall and water available for irrigation during the season.
Ailimpo director José Antonio García described the production season as “normal in terms of volume and very good in terms of quality, which will guarantee adequate supplies for European markets”. Harvesting is running two weeks ahead of usual, with regular volumes expected to be available from early October.
The association said the early end to the Southern Hemisphere season bodes well for the new campaign but said Spain is likely to face strong competition in eastern European markets from Turkey, which is also expecting a normal production volume.
According to Ailimpo, the Russian ban is not expected to affect the start of the season as shipments to this market don’t get underway until March, and Russia only accounts for around 3 per cent of Spain’s export volume.
Nevertheless, García said the association has requested to the EU that lemons be included in the list of products affected by the veto “to give a positive signal to growers that aid is available should problems arise, and also to avoid buyers exploiting the ban by introducing speculative pricing”.
