European drought boosts Catalan alfalfa exports

A summer drought across much of Europe has unexpectedly boosted the alfalfa industry in Catalonia. The lack of rainfall has spiked demand for forage as livestock feed in several European nations, helping producers offset previous export difficulties caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Cristina Vendrell, president of the Associació Espanyola de Fabricants d'Alfals Deshidratat (AEFA), noted that producers have tapped into unconventional markets such as Switzerland and Ireland, where low precipitation has reduced available pasture. France, traditionally a competitor to Catalan producers, has emerged as a primary client, described by Vendrell as a ‘consumidor desesperado’ (desperate consumer) due to water shortages.

Increased demand has also been observed from Germany. While the surge has benefited producers in the Iberian Peninsula, including Catalonia, Aragon, and Castilla y León, the AEFA views this as a ‘coyuntura temporal’ (temporary situation) that is expected to subside once regular rainfall returns to the continent.