The iceberg lettuce sector is suffering constant instability this campaign as a result of the atypical weather conditions. After a few weeks with large volumes available due an earlier start of the production, the sector is now facing a widespread shortage of iceberg lettuce caused by a drop in the production and a predominance of reduced calibres.
Calibres 12 and 14 will be the most common in March, instead of the more commercial 9 and 10, as confirmed by the technical services of Proexport and Amopa. Volumes are reduced because the plants have not been able to develop in optimal conditions.
This predominance of small calibres, together with the earlier start of the production period, has reduced the prospects for the coming weeks. Compared to the first weeks of 2016, the available volumes are expected to fall by up to 30%.
Consequence of earlier start of the production
As stated by Amopa and Proexport two weeks ago, growers were forced to destroy large quantities of the product given the collapse of prices at origin.
These adverse conditions have continued throughout the winter season, since the excessive heat registered in the months of November to January in south eastern Spain has caused a successive advancement in harvest dates in Murcia, Almeria and Alicante. On the other side of the scale, eastern Spanish has registered a drop in temperatures and winds that have hampered the normal development of the production season, which has led to shortages.
Export data
The country's total lettuce exports in 2015 reached 723,848 tonnes worth 631 million Euro. Lettuce remains, by a wide margin, as the product yielding the best results out of all Murcian fruits and vegetables for export. While there was a 2.1% drop in volume in 2015 compared to the previous year, the total shipped still reached 501,985 tonnes worth 423 million Euro. Murcia supplies about 70% of the lettuce exported by Spain.
