Spanish watermelon sector faces stable acreage and insurance price adjustments after difficult 2025 season

Spanish watermelon growers maintain planting area in 2026 despite last season's low prices and excess supply, with proposed insurance price increases reflecting higher production costs.

Spanish watermelon production for the 2026 season is expected to maintain a similar surface area to 2025, with major supply coming from Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia, Catalonia, and later Castilla-La Mancha. Spanish retailers, such as Consum, have planned for 15,100 tonnes of watermelon sourced exclusively from domestic production, ensuring steady supply for both the national and export markets throughout the summer.

The 2025 watermelon campaign in Spain was marked by a significant oversupply and low prices, with producers reporting that much of the fruit remained unsold or was diverted to the domestic market due to weak export demand. Companies such as Agroborja sold record volumes, exceeding 21,000 tonnes, but at very low prices. In many cases, when European markets did not absorb usual export volumes, the surplus saturated the Spanish market.

Wholesale and insurance reference prices are under review due to rising input costs. The main Spanish agricultural association proposed increasing the insurable price for seeded watermelon from €0.14 to €0.21 per kg and for seedless watermelon from €0.21 to €0.30 per kg to better reflect current production costs and market realities. These adjustments are pending approval and would impact risk management for growers in the 2026 season.

Producers have responded to persistently low prices and high costs by investing in operational efficiency. Companies such as Núñez García Filoso have upgraded facilities to improve logistics and reduce loading times, aiming for greater competitiveness in export markets. The sector is also responding to evolving consumer demand by expanding offerings of mini and midi watermelons, as well as introducing new seedless and microseeded varieties for both domestic and export channels.

Spanish watermelon exports are a key source for European buyers, including Poland, especially during the summer. The continued stability in Spanish supply and the potential for higher insurance reference prices may influence wholesale prices and availability for importers across Europe.

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