Spain forecasts 19% rise in lemon harvest to 1.21 million tonnes in 2026/27
Spain’s lemon harvest is forecast to reach 1,214,600 tonnes in 2026/27, up 19% from the provisional 2025/26 total. Higher Fino and Verna output should expand fresh-market availability and return processing volumes to normal levels.
Production forecast at 1.21 million tonnes
Spain is expected to produce 1,214,600 tonnes of lemons in the 2026/27 season, an increase of 19% from the previous campaign, according to an AILIMPO estimate reported by Fruit Today. The forecast points to a substantial recovery in the crop and greater availability for the fresh and processing markets.
The provisional balance for 2025/26 puts Spanish production at 1,021,000 tonnes. That figure covers fruit exported, processed and sold on the domestic market, as well as weight losses and damage caused by cold weather. The forecast therefore represents an increase of 193,600 tonnes between the two seasons.
Fino and Verna varieties both recover
Production is forecast to rise across Spain’s two principal lemon varieties. Fino output is expected to increase by 17%, while the Verna harvest is projected to grow by 24%. The larger increase for Verna could improve fruit availability later in the marketing season, although AILIMPO did not provide tonnage estimates for each variety.
The expected growth comes despite a slight reduction in total planted area, which now stands at 49,572 hectares. A larger crop from a smaller area implies better average output per hectare, supported by favorable flowering, fruit set and crop management. Final yields will still depend on conditions through harvest.
Weather and water support commercial quality
Fruit Today said spring weather was optimal, enabling adequate flowering and fruit set. Although Spain experienced high temperatures in June, July and August, growers had access to sufficient water to meet the needs of the trees. This combination helped preserve the production outlook during the summer heat.
AILIMPO also linked the forecast for improved fruit quality and higher commercial utilization to growers’ pest and disease management. Its AGEFIS project provides phytosanitary monitoring financed through the sector’s Extension of Norm mechanism. Better usable yields matter because marketed supply depends not only on the total crop but also on how much fruit meets fresh-market specifications.
More supply for fresh sales and processing
A 19% production increase should give Spanish packers and exporters more fruit to market in 2026/27, reinforcing the country’s position in the European lemon business. Greater availability may increase competition among suppliers and limit upward price pressure, but the actual effect will depend on fruit sizes, quality, demand and the timing of shipments. The forecast does not include price or export-volume projections.
The larger harvest should also allow the volume of lemons sent for processing to return to normal levels, according to AILIMPO. This would improve raw-material availability for processors while giving growers and packing houses another outlet for fruit that is unsuitable for fresh sale. For market participants, the central issue will be how the additional 193,600 tonnes are divided between exports, Spain’s domestic market, processing and crop losses.
