Larger European peach and nectarine harvest meets uneven demand and higher costs

European output rises 8%

Europe’s peach and nectarine market entered the second half of July with a larger harvest, stronger competition among producing countries and increasingly divergent price trends. Fruchtportal, citing EastFruit, reported that Europe’s 2026 crop is estimated by Europêch at about 2.74 million tonnes, an increase of roughly 8% from 2.53 million tonnes in 2025.

Spain remains the largest producer by a wide margin. Its combined harvest of peaches, nectarines and flat fruit is forecast at just under 1.2 million tonnes, around 5% above 2025. Italian production is expected to rise 3% to 867,239 tonnes, while France forecasts 224,027 tonnes, up 4%. Greece is set for the strongest recovery: output could reach 455,000 tonnes, 35% more than during the frost-affected 2025 season.

Italian grower prices remain under pressure

The return of Greek volumes and moderate growth in Spain and Italy give European buyers more fruit, but the price effect varies by market, variety, size and quality. ISMEA monitoring for the second week of July showed Italian grower prices below their comparison levels across major peach and nectarine categories.

White-flesh peaches averaged about €0.85 per kilogram, down 15.3% from 2024, while yellow-flesh peaches were around €0.86 per kilogram, a decline of 9.2%. White-flesh nectarines averaged €0.95 per kilogram, 9.3% below the comparable 2025 period, and yellow-flesh nectarines stood at €0.84 per kilogram, down 12.8%. For July 6-12, yellow peaches were quoted at €1.05 per kilogram in Ravenna, €0.90 in Bologna and €0.75 in Cosenza, illustrating the importance of origin and commercial specification.

French shortages support selected categories

Parts of the French market present a different picture. FranceAgriMer’s Market News Network said on July 13 that the nectarine market in southeastern France remained in deficit, with orders exceeding immediately available supply. On July 15, Rhône-Alpes category I, AA-size white-flesh nectarines were offered at about €2.90 per kilogram, while yellow-flesh peaches of the same category were quoted near €2.80.

Spanish imports were available at lower prices. At the Saint-Charles import market, Spanish category I, A-size yellow-flesh peaches averaged €1.40 per kilogram. At Rungis, Spanish AA-size yellow peaches averaged €2.40 per kilogram after an increase of €0.40. The broad range reflects differences in origin, calibre, packaging and stage of sale, making a single European benchmark price an inadequate description of current conditions.

Catalan costs narrow producers’ room

Production economics are becoming more important for Spanish suppliers as the campaign advances. A study presented at Afrucat headquarters on July 14 estimated average 2026 production costs for peaches, nectarines and flat fruit in Catalonia at €14,298 per hectare, 10-15% above the 2020-2024 average. Based on an estimated yield of 24,431 kilograms per hectare, farm production costs were calculated at €0.585 per kilogram.

Adding estimated packing and marketing expenses lifts total costs to about €1.234 per kilogram. The CREDA-UPC-IRTA study, commissioned by the regional agriculture ministry and based on farm-accounting data from the Catalan agricultural network, described this as a negotiating and economic reference rather than a recommended selling price. With more standard fruit available, suppliers able to deliver consistent quality, larger sizes, precise grading, longer shelf life and reliable programmes are better placed to access the higher-priced segments that remain undersupplied.