Heatwaves slash French lettuce supply, Spanish exports rise in value

French lettuce production has been severely reduced by heatwaves, while Spain increased its lettuce export volume and value in early 2026.

French vegetable growers report that recent heatwaves have destroyed up to 50% of open-field lettuce crops, along with significant losses in onions, carrots, leeks, and other vegetables. The French vegetable association estimates that thousands of tonnes have been lost, with lettuce among the worst-affected. This is expected to cause acute shortages in French supermarkets and increase reliance on imports in the coming weeks.

At the same time, Spain remains the leading European exporter of lettuce. Between January and May 2026, Spanish lettuce exports reached 453,039 tonnes, a 3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The value of these exports rose by 5.1%, totaling €607 million. This makes lettuce the top Spanish vegetable export by both volume and value for the period.

The overall Spanish fruit and vegetable export volume fell by 1.6% year-on-year to 5.5 million tonnes in the first five months of 2026, but the total value increased by 7% to €10.1 billion. For vegetables specifically, Spain exported 2.9 million tonnes, 1% less than 2025, but generated €5.07 billion, a 10% increase in value. Higher average prices compensated for the slight decline in volume.

French shortages are expected to increase demand for imported lettuce from Spain and other producers. However, heat and drought are also affecting vegetable crops in several other European countries, potentially limiting alternative sources. This could put upward pressure on wholesale prices for lettuce across the region, including in importing markets such as Poland.

Spanish growers continue to face rising production costs, with fertilizers up 27% and fuel up 50% during the 2025–26 campaign. Despite these increases, the Spanish sector maintained positive revenue growth due to higher export prices.

Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker