Producers in Egypt are entering the new artichoke season with cautious optimism: demand from abroad remains high and Egypt sees itself as a reliable supplier in the early part of the year. However, rising production and logistics costs as well as currency fluctuations, which can have an impact on costing, remain a challenge. Overall, however, expectations regarding quality and availability are positive.

Spain is sending out positive signals for the upcoming harvest season. Producers are reporting an increase in acreage of around 5 to 10 per cent, supported by milder temperatures in the most important regions so far. Overall, availability is therefore expected to remain stable, especially as the first batches have already been processed. The cost structure remains tense, but provided the weather continues to play along, prices could develop moderately and without major fluctuations.