Prospects already pointed to a year of rising prices due to a lower mango production, and the prediction has been confirmed. With between 50 and 70% less volume, tropical producers have received up to € 2.20 per kilo for the Osteen variety, which is far above the average of € 0.90 reached last year. At the beginning of the campaign, in September, prices stood around 2.20 Euro/kg, and just two weeks ago they started to drop, reaching 1.70-1.80, explains the president of the Spanish Association of Tropical Crops, Miguel Gutiérrez. These figures have caused some problems in the markets, with complaints about "price speculation" and purchases slowing down by up to 70% in just one week.
"Last year's campaign ended with the Keitt at 2.40 Euro/kg without any problems, but as a result of having started this campaign also with high prices, the markets have been difficult," states Gutiérrez.
The harvest of the Osteen variety, which accounts for around 80% of Spain's total mango production, is already in the final stages (expected to finish in a couple of weeks), while the Keitt will arrive soon, with a season usually extending up to the end of November.
Good quality but large calibres
The manager of the Granada-based firm Frutas El Cerval, Gregorio Jiménez, said that the smaller harvest has resulted in calibres being very large, reaching 500-600 grams per piece. "It's a problem because customers like the UK or Germany, which sell the fruit by units, demand calibres of around 300-350 grams." However, the lower yield also entails higher quality fruit.
