Apple Crop 2026: Spain Increases Production While Europe Faces a Sharp Decline

The 2026/27 European apple season is developing with a clear contrast between Spain and the rest of the European market.

According to the latest forecasts presented at Prognosfruit 2026, apple production across the European Union is expected to fall significantly this season, while Spain is moving in the opposite direction.

Spain expects a stronger apple crop

Spanish apple production is forecast to reach approximately 525,000 tonnes in 2026, representing an increase of around 7.5% compared with the previous season.

The expected crop is also more than 5% above the Spanish ten-year average, indicating a recovery in domestic production.

Golden remains by far the most important apple group in Spain, with approximately 250,000 tonnes expected, followed by Gala with around 91,000 tonnes.

Catalonia, Spain’s main apple-producing region, is also expecting a particularly positive season. Production is forecast at approximately 289,600 tonnes, 9% above 2025 and 12% above the five-year average.

Europe moves in the opposite direction

The situation across the European Union is considerably different.

EU apple production is currently forecast at approximately 9.5 million tonnes, representing a 15.6% decline compared with the previous season.

It would also leave European production around 14

.3% below the average of the previous three seasons.

Several of Europe’s principal apple-producing regions have been affected by adverse weather conditions during the growing season, inclu

ding spring frosts, heat waves, drought and hail.

The result is one of the smallest European apple crops of recent years.

Spain b

Becomes an exception within the European apple market

The contrast is therefore significant:

Spain: +7.5%

European Union: -15.6%

Spain is one of the few major European apple origins expected to increase production this season.

This divergence could become particularly relevant for the European apple processing industry.

A larger Spanish crop should improve the availability of domestic raw material for processors. However, the significant reduction in European production means that the market will continue operating within a relatively tight European supply environment.

Therefore, higher Spanish production should not necessarily be interpreted as an indication of substantially lower apple prices.

What does this mean for the apple juice concentrate market?

For manufacturers and buyers of apple juice concentrate, the 2026/27 campaign presents an interesting scenario.

On one side, Spanish processors should benefit from better domestic fruit availability.

On the other, the substantial reduction in the overall European crop could maintain pressure on industrial apple availability and support prices across the European market.

The final balance will depend not only on total harvested volumes but also on the percentage of the crop ultimately available for industrial processing.

Fruit quality, size distribution and the development of the fresh apple market during the harvest will therefore be important factors to monitor.

Spain enters the campaign from a stronger position

The initial outlook for the Spanish apple industry is clearly more positive than in much of Europe.

With production recovering while the European crop contracts sharply, Spain could strengthen its position as a source of apple-based ingredients during the 2026/27 season.

For the juice and beverage industry, this makes Spanish apple particularly interesting to follow over the coming months.

At BAOR Products, we will continue monitoring the Spanish apple campaign and the evolution of raw material availability for apple juice concentrate, apple juice and other fruit-based ingredients.