Spanish mango

  • Published on 8/04/2016 - Published by GERBAUD Pierre
  • FruiTrop n°239 , Page From 68 to 73
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Producer country file

Spain occupies a very special place in the international mango trade. Overlooked as recently as the early 2000s, it has propelled itself into the leading pack of suppliers to the European market. In a matter of fifteen years or so, this source has gradually become an essential part of the mango supply calendar. In addition, it is distinguished by several factors, the first of which is certainly being part of the European Union. It is indeed the only European producer country, which gives it a genuine logistical asset by virtue of its proximity to the consumer markets. The second original feature lies in its varietal selection: estimated at around 85 % Osteen, a variety completely unknown before the emergence of Span. Shipments of Spanish mangoes have risen in stop-start fashion, in line with a production level which varies from year to year. The production zones are at the northern limit of the optimum range of the mango.

 

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Location

Spanish mango production is packed into the country’s “tropical zone”, the coastal strip of Andalusia between Malaga and Motril, where the avocado is also cultivated. The success obtained by the mango quickly intensified planting in this zone, but also in new lands extending as far as Cadiz in the west and Almeria in the east. This choice was based mainly on the pedoclimatic conditions of the region which are suited to the mango’s requirements. Orchards rapidly colonised the foothills of the Penibaetic system to which the Sierra Nevada belongs. Most often terraced, mango orchards often dispute the available land with the region’s other flagship crop, the avocados. The surface areas currently planted with the mango are apparently around 5 500 ha, as a result of a 20 % annual rise for the past few years. Farms are mainly of modest size, estimated at 2 to 4 ha on average. Until 2005, planting took place in the most favourable zones for mango cultivation. However, the successive good economic results have encouraged farmers to plant in less favourable zones, more exposed to drought, wind and low temperatures.

Gradually, avocado orchards have been driven down to the Andalusian valley bottoms due to their water requirements, whereas the mango orchards have hauled themselves up bit by bit to the top of the driest hills. The extension of the mango cultivation area has come up against two factors: on the one hand, water availability in this historically limited region, and on the other hand pressure on land, long monopolised by tourism development, the region’s other source of wealth. This pressure seems to have eased since the real estate bubble burst following the 2008 crisis. Agriculture, paid little heed by the public authorities when tourism was booming, is now seen as a buoyant sector, and therefore worthy of renewed interest in terms of its revenue and job creation. Hence the restrictions are easing, to help free up new planting zones. There remains the problem of water, hitherto focused on tourism development and supplying the conurbations. Again, the success of the mango industry is in the process of changing things, with the promotion of any new water management schemes favouring the fruit cultivation sector.

 

mangue - espagne - carte zones de production
mangue - espagne - carte zones de production

Production

From small beginnings at the dawn of the millennium, the mango cultivation area has grown at a tempo set by a succession of profitable campaigns. From a few hundred tonnes, production rapidly exceeded one thousand tonnes and reached the 10 000-t mark at the end of the decade. The acceleration of planting had enabled production to double by 2014. This trend has maintained a high tempo, with the figure currently at around 25 000 t. The planting in progress is heralding a further increase in production, currently estimated at 30 000 t, but which could reach 50 000 t in the coming years, like the avocado. The Spanish mango industry is based on a thousand or so producers, independent or grouped into cooperatives. Marketing is carried out by half a dozen big shipping facilities. But in parallel there is a veiling system for mangoes, especially at the beginning of the campaign. These marketing circuits are used to sell off, among other things, less highly rated varieties such as Tommy Atkins, Sensation, etc., often of inferior quality categories.

 

Production calendar and varieties

The production calendar can vary slightly from one year to the next, depending on the weather conditions affecting the production zones. But overall, the first marketable fruits appear toward mid-August. Depending on the year, the campaign may continue until mid-November or late November at the latest. The first harvests, often comprising Tommy Atkins, are generally sold on the national market and to Portugal. This variety is rarely shipped to other European countries, except in the case of an overall market under-supply. The real campaign launch, which sees increasing volumes being shipped, comes between the second half of August and early September. The campaign progresses to its peak with Osteen, the jewel of Spanish production, which generally finishes in late October. This variety is replaced at the end of the campaign by Keitt, which extends the Spanish season until late November at the latest. In September and until mid-October, the Spanish supply expands with Irwin, with limited quantities shipped out. In October, Kent shipments top up the range.

Osteen forms the bulk of Spanish shipments, with an estimated proportion of 85 %. The second biggest variety is probably Keitt (10 %), with planted areas constantly on the rise, and which could attain 20 % in the coming years. This variety, on which many hopes are based, helps extend the campaign. The other varieties mentioned are available in more modest quantities, but widen the available range, and often obtain decent prices for the shippers (Kent and Irwin: 5 %).

mango - spain - harvest calendar
mango - spain - harvest calendar

 

Outlets

When Spanish mangoes first entered the international trade, the main target market was France, because of its proximity, and perhaps its openness to tropical fruits. After a few campaigns, their distribution accelerated and extended to other European countries. Despite early reticence, given the higher prices in relation to the Brazilian supply available at the same time, the various European markets gradually opened up to this source. Marketing mangoes of a previously unknown variety (Osteen) would take time to gain acceptance by distributors and consumers. The increase in good overall quality mango volumes on the market gradually won over the various markets, until it became an essential part of the European Union supply calendar. The rapid ends of the Israeli and Senegalese campaigns in August, and the frequent late starts by Brazilian Kent, have offered Spain a wider market window, with the volumes and quality of the fruit finishing the job of persuading distributors.

The bulk of Spanish production is shipped to the various European markets. Paradoxically, the fruit is still relatively unfamiliar on the national market outside of the production zone. This situation probably represents a potential sales opportunity for producers.

The Spanish mango industry has seen exemplary development: based on a few large facilities, often initially well-established in avocado production and marketing. The shortness of the Spanish mango season has encouraged sector companies to expand their sale period. To this end, they have gradually added to their primary activity importing mangoes from other sources. Hence the cultural and linguistic proximity, but also logistical facilities, have led them to develop commercial relations with certain South American sources. Outside of the local production period, Spain has become an import and redistribution hub for South American mangoes.

 

mango - spain - evolution of exports
mango - spain - evolution of exports

Logistics

The proximity of the recipient markets represents one of the major assets of this industry, given the large fleet of lorries available in Spain dedicated to fruit and vegetable transport, which helps ensure a supply of superior quality mangoes. The later harvest ensures a more advanced maturity, enabling the fruits to develop more flavour. The orientation of the market toward the ready-to-eat segment may very well be followed by Spanish producers from the production stage, generating more added value for their product.

The logistics for imported fruit, especially air-freight mangoes originating from certain South American sources, is another positive for the sector companies. Forwarding of this fruit to other European countries is seamlessly managed by the long-established fruit and vegetable transport networks, via which Spain is a major supplier.

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