Spain Turns to Imported Oranges as Harvests Shrink and Prices Fall
Spain, the EU’s leading citrus producer, is increasingly importing oranges from South Africa, Morocco and Egypt because of a record-low harvest and cheaper foreign fruit.
Spain remains the EU’s top citrus grower, but the 2025/6 harvest hit a 16-year low, causing exports to slip 11.6% to 2.72 million tonnes. Trade data show orange export volumes fell 11.2% in the first half of 2026, valued at €774 million. To cover the shortfall from mid-August to November, supermarkets import oranges from South Africa, Morocco and Egypt, where production costs are lower and EU tariffs have been eased.
Farmers such as Carles Peris and Cristóbal Aguado say the influx of cheaper fruit is stealing market share, noting an 8.6-point loss for European citrus over the past decade. They call for a review of trade deals to ensure a level playing field, fearing that imported oranges could become a permanent substitute for domestic produce.
Why it matters
Spain’s reliance on imported oranges highlights vulnerabilities in EU agriculture and the impact of trade policies on local farmers.
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