After the floods in Spain, the risk of a shortage of clementines and oranges in France

The Valencia region in Spain, renowned for its citrus production, has been experiencing torrential rains for almost a week. The floods saturated the soil and farms are under the waters in this part of Spain. Enough to create concern and push many of our interlocutors to remain anonymous.

60% less clementines

In Perpignan, on the other side of the border, the difficulties are already being felt. Supply takes longer at the Saint-Charles market in Perpignan, one of the gateways for fruits and vegetables, then resold throughout Europe. “Spanish carriers cannot take the direct highway to go back to Barcelona and deliver to France” according to the operator of a transport company based in Saint-Charles.

But finding an alternative route is not the only constraint, loads of citrus fruits are also becoming rarer because production is almost at a standstilldue to flooding.

Orange producers, but especially clementines, are the first to be impacted. “It is at this time that the clementines are picked from the tree then put in a ripening room” explains the manager of one of the Perpignan companies which has its fruit production in the Valence region. Except that with the floods, “the fruits are waterlogged and risk rotting” he concedes.

Et the situation is not ready to get better : “For the moment, some producers are very difficult to contact, but we know that they absolutely cannot go to their fields and that because of the floods, the electricity networks have to be completely redone. It will take time! “ reports the Perpignan sales representative of an import-export company.

Production will be falling drastically in the coming months. For clementine, for example, “we expect a 60% drop in arrivals for France.”

Bad weather still ongoing

Difficult for the moment to give a precise assessment. Weather alerts are maintained and move north, around Barcelona. News that is not reassuring. “Part of the citrus production is also in this sector so this new rain could be a real disaster for the sector this season. We are already preparing to have to do without it,” comments the manager of a logistics platform in the heart of the Saint-Charles market in Perpignan.