A significant trade dispute is emerging between Spain and South Africa over citrus imports, with Spanish farmers alleging that South African fruit exports have devastated their naartjie production. The conflict centers around the European Union’s trade agreement with South Africa, which Spanish agricultural groups claim has severely impacted their early-season mandarin harvests....Click to Read More >>➤

The Valencian farmers’ association Ava-Asaja has reported alarming statistics showing a 40% decline in early-season mandarin production since 2016. This corresponds directly with the implementation of the EU-South Africa trade deal, raising serious concerns among European citrus growers.

Production figures reveal a dramatic drop from 361,000 tonnes to just 211,000 tonnes in Spain’s key citrus region of Valencia during this period. Spanish farmers attribute this steep decline to market overlap with South African late-season mandarins, which have seen export volumes to European markets more than triple over the past decade.

South African mandarin exports to the EU have surged from 53,869 tonnes to 180,140 tonnes, creating intense competition during the crucial early part of the European citrus season. This increased market presence has Spanish farmers deeply concerned about the future of their industry.

The situation has escalated to the diplomatic level, with Ava-Asaja representatives traveling to Brussels this week to lobby EU officials and Spanish members of the European Parliament. They are urgently calling for a review and potential suspension of the current trade agreement with South Africa.

Ava-Asaja president Cristóbal Aguado expressed grave concerns about what he described as “the unstoppable replacement of European citrus with fruit from South Africa.” He highlighted several issues including the larger carbon footprint of imported fruit and what he characterized as conditions of unfair competition.

The Spanish association also raised phytosanitary concerns, citing recent detections of black spot disease and false codling moth in South African citrus shipments. They argue that these incidents indicate potential non-compliance with European cold treatment regulations designed to eliminate pests.

According to the farmers’ association, South Africa leads global interception rankings for contaminated shipments, second only to Argentina. This has intensified calls for stricter border controls and a comprehensive assessment of the trade deal’s economic, social, and environmental impacts.

The dispute highlights growing tensions in international agricultural trade and the complex balance between trade liberalization and protecting domestic farming industries. Spanish farmers warn that without intervention, the situation could lead to further farm closures across the Valencia region. ...Click to Read More >>➤