According to the “Agricultural Statistics 2024” released by INE, the autumn/winter cereal crops saw productivity increases “due to soil moisture and regular vegetative development, although low prices and high costs reduced the producers’ net margin.”
In contrast, the spring/summer cereals, particularly maize for grain, experienced a more negative scenario: productivity declines, a reduction in area (-13.6%), and the lowest production of the last decade.
Vegetable and potato production recorded increases of 3.1% and 10%, respectively, “despite challenges like planting delays,” whereas industrial tomato cultivation showed an increase in area but a drop in productivity.
In fruit farming, INE reports “mixed results”: apple (+7.2%) and orange (+26.9%) recovered from poor seasons, while pear and kiwi suffered from diseases, low fruiting, and climate changes, and cherry experienced a “new sharp decline” (-35.5%).
In permanent crops, olive oil stood out with the second-largest production ever, and almond reached a record, consolidating Portugal as the second-largest producer in the European Union (EU).
Conversely, chestnut “remained below potential despite high quality,” and the grape harvest was adversely affected by “strong disease pressure and adverse climatic phenomena,” recording an 8.1% decline in production.
