Catalonia's Apple Harvest Recovers, German Drought Threatens Output
Catalonia forecasts a 9% year-on-year increase in apple production to 289,600 tonnes for 2026, while German processors warn of smaller fruit due to drought, potentially impacting European supply and trade flows.
The Catalonian fruit growers' association Afrucat has projected apple production in Catalonia at 289,600 tonnes for 2026, representing a 9% increase over 2025 and 12% above the five-year average. The Girona region is expected to see a 30% rise, driven partly by new plantings of innovative varieties, which now account for 26% of young orchards. This recovery follows several years of weather-related disruptions and is likely to boost Spanish apple availability for export markets across Europe.
In Germany, processors report that the 2026 apple harvest from traditional and extensive orchards is threatened by drought. Although the number of apples on trees is considered sufficient, fruit size remains small due to insufficient rainfall. The German association estimates the harvest from traditional orchards at approximately 450,000 tonnes, similar to last year, but warns that without significant rain in the next two weeks, forecasts may be revised downward. Reduced German output could increase demand for imports, including from Poland.
No concrete wholesale or export prices for apples in Spain or Germany were reported for this period. However, the German processing sector typically sources apples from neighboring countries when domestic supply is tight. In this context, Poland may see increased demand for its apples from German juice and processing factories if German harvest volumes fall short.
The long-term capacity of Germany's extensive apple orchards is declining due to older tree age and recurring droughts. Many trees are over 80 years old, and economic conditions limit new orchard investments, indicating a gradual reduction in Germany's domestic supply potential in future seasons.
In Catalonia, the government has introduced new support schemes with a maximum budget of €8 million to help growers invest in resilience against hail and frost, capping aid at €120,000 per beneficiary for up to eight hectares.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker · Illustrative image generated by AI