Agricultural yields in Catalonia show stability in rice but decline in olives

Agricultural production in Catalonia shows mixed results for the 2026 season. Rice production has stabilized at 139,396 tonnes, with 131,752 tonnes coming from the Ebro Delta. This figure is 2.5% higher than the 2019-2022 average, marking a recovery from previous drought-induced declines. Despite this stabilization, producers face challenges with weed management and a lack of phytosanitary products to control Pyricularia, leading to shifts in cultivation techniques.

In contrast, the olive oil sector faces significant declines. The Federació de Cooperatives Agràries de Catalunya (FCAC) estimates olive production will reach only 25,500 tonnes, a 34.6% decrease from the previous season's 39,000 tonnes. Spring and summer droughts have severely impacted yields, particularly in the Baix Ebre and Montsià regions, where production could drop by as much as 60%. Recent rainfall has been insufficient to offset the accumulated water stress in olive groves.