Spain and other regions face mixed harvest outlooks, pistachio down 27%

In Castilla‑La Mancha, the pistachio sector expects a 27 % drop to 8,054 t in the 2026 campaign, citing new acreage that failed to offset frost damage in Ciudad Real and Albacete and an early vegetative cycle. The regional harvest will still be of high quality, with no major phytosanitary issues reported.

Spanish cooperatives have cut their cereal harvest estimate by almost 2 million t, now forecast at 18.6 million t – roughly 30 % below last year’s 26.6 million t – due to high temperatures and scant rainfall during key growth phases. Similar concerns about heat stress affect the melon and watermelon harvest, which remains stable in area but may see lower yields if July‑August heat waves intensify. Initial market prices for melon (€0.28‑0.30 /kg) and watermelon (up to €0.28 /kg) were set at the Castilla‑La Mancha price board.

In Alicante, the cherry season delivered a record‑high €15 million revenue, the best in six years, after a near‑5 million kg harvest. Venezuela’s sugarcane sector projects a modest 4.6 million‑ton sugarcane crush, a slight rise over the previous year, while Chinese pampelmusa exporters anticipate stable supply but a 10‑20 % price dip early in the season. The Bierzo pear campaign in north‑west Spain will start around 20 August with a slight expected yield reduction but maintained quality.

Overall, the agricultural outlook across these regions shows a mix of declines, stable production, and price pressures driven by weather extremes and market dynamics.