Impact of the War on Spanish Exports
The current conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has created a domino effect that severely impacts the Spanish agricultural industry, particularly the alfalfa sector. In total, two thousand containers of this essential product are blocked in intermediate ports, representing an unprecedented crisis for local producers.
According to Cristina Vendrell, president of the Spanish Association of Dehydrated Alfalfa Manufacturers (AEFA), Spain produces around one million kilos of alfalfa annually, with significant exports to countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. However, currently 50 million of those products are held up due to restrictions imposed by the conflict. This situation has led the sector to accumulate estimated losses of 15 million euros, primarily due to surcharges demanded by shipping companies.
Despite the efforts made by companies like Venso, located in Almacelles (Lleida), which has 250 containers already unloaded in India blocked, uncertainty persists. “We don’t know how to move them because they have declared the destination finished there,” Vendrell explains. The search for new routes to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is further complicated by the high costs associated with maritime transport under dangerous conditions.
Despite a 47% increase in total dehydrated forage exports during the 2024/2025 campaign compared to the previous year, many companies are struggling to survive this logistical crisis. So far, only the Generalitat de Catalunya has proposed measures to mitigate the costs associated with goods trapped in transit; however, these initiatives have yet to materialise.
The AEFA has urged the Ministry of Agriculture and other autonomous communities such as Aragón to consider similar aid to assist affected companies. “We are in a hurry; many companies will not be able to bear these costs,” concludes Vendrell. The situation is critical and requires immediate attention to prevent a greater collapse in a sector vital to the Spanish economy.
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