Global garlic-producing regions are navigating a season shaped by uneven supply, shifting trade patterns, and pricing pressure.

Italy reports stable garlic pricing supported by steady supply, while Spain is dealing with reduced production, higher costs, and increased pressure from low-cost origins that are reshaping market dynamics. France enters the new season with healthy quality across regions, but faces a marked shortage of small calibres that could influence 2025 marketing.

Retailers in the Netherlands are shifting away from Spanish garlic toward origins offering more consistent quality, and North America is experiencing a balanced supply but tighter margins due to tariffs and slower demand. Germany’s garlic market is entering December with stable availability and slight price movements.

© Stefan Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen | FreshPlaza.com

Egypt continues to expand acreage and expects higher production, although questions remain regarding seed development and weather conditions. South Africa’s garlic market is entering the new season with high volumes, price pressure, and ongoing concerns about informal trade.

China’s garlic sector is moving through the main export window with stable prices and moderate global demand shaping market activity. Peru is seeing increased volumes but falling prices due to aggressive Chinese offers that are also affecting its key export market in Mexico, while Brazil is managing depressed prices caused by large carryover stocks and lower import costs. Argentina’s larger crop is entering a crowded market shaped by Chinese and Brazilian price benchmarks, reducing opportunities for recovery.

Chile’s strong production is encountering the same global pressure from low-priced Chinese garlic, and Mexico is operating in a volatile environment with substantial arrivals from South America and continued impact from underpriced Chinese supply.

Italy: Traders report stable pricing under international market pressure
Garlic prices have stabilised compared to the increases seen in 2024, according to a major producer and trader in northern Italy. Prices remain steady with no fluctuations, as abundant Chinese garlic production worldwide is keeping the market stable. In the coming weeks, garlic from Argentina will arrive in Italy. The country produces only half of the garlic it consumes and therefore imports the remainder. Spain is Italy’s main supplier, as production costs there are much lower. Italy also has a parallel market for branded and PGI garlic, which commands much higher prices than standard products and remains popular with consumers.

According to a producer and trader in southern Italy, commercial trends have been positive so far, with acceptable prices at both the production and distribution levels. However, the international situation has strongly influenced price dynamics. “At the beginning of the season in the summer, price levels were influenced by the Spanish market, which imposed high prices due to lower domestic production. This encouraged garlic from other producing countries, such as China, Turkey, and Egypt in particular, to enter the market, resulting in an exponential increase in sales throughout Europe, including in Italy and Spain, to the extent that some warehouses still have stock to distribute today.”

Spain, in particular, experienced a complex situation. “The massive influx of Egyptian garlic created a stalemate: the more expensive Spanish product remained in storage while, despite its inferior quality, Egyptian garlic gained ground in the distribution channel,” notes the operator. This created a paradoxical scenario for the leading European producer, which also traditionally exports to non-EU markets.

Spain: Low sales and rising pressure from low-cost origins
Spanish garlic is facing several months of quiet sales in a European market where supply from third countries continues to rise. As a result, Spanish garlic is increasingly being displaced by origins with lower production costs and lower prices.

“For the last two or three months, the market has been almost at a standstill. Sales are very quiet and only cover orders from regular clients with previously closed contracts,” says the representative of the biggest Spanish garlic association.

Purchase prices in the field are high and, consequently, so are market sales prices, although marketed volumes are smaller. Despite maintaining a similar planted area to last season, this year’s total production has fallen by around 15%, with a much greater drop in purple garlic at around 30% due to the impact of heat waves, viruses, and fungus. Production costs have also risen by around 30% in the last two years.

“In a context of high prices for Spanish garlic, imports from third countries at lower prices are increasing disproportionately, especially from Egypt, which has become the most imported origin in Europe. Imports from Turkey are also growing significantly, and new origins are being incorporated that previously did not export and which hardly produce garlic at all, but even import it from China,” explains the representative. “The constant increase in garlic imports from third countries is having a major effect on Spanish producers. It is impossible to compete on price with produce from these countries, whose production costs are substantially lower. For the first time since it was imposed, the maximum quota for imports from countries outside the EU has been covered.”

Spanish garlic is losing market share to these origins. The increase in costs also includes reduced crop yields due to the impact of pests and diseases, linked to the use of ineffective active ingredients as a result of restrictions imposed by the European Commission to protect consumer health. “However, the entry of products that do not comply with these regulations and without any kind of control is allowed,” the director says.

France: Quality garlic but a shortage of small calibres
During the launch of the 2025 French garlic campaign in September, the general trend pointed to healthy product quality across regions but a worrying shortage of small calibres, which are increasingly demanded by retailers. While imports fell by 9% and exports rose slightly, consumption remains stable, with an upcoming study expected to refine consumer insights.

Regional reports highlight contrasting conditions: the IGP Ail de la Drôme recorded a “normal” season with large calibres; Cadours showed heterogeneous sizes; Lautrec suffered catastrophic hail damage; Arleux reported strong quality and good conservation; Billom saw yields reduced by heatwaves; Piolenc recorded slightly lower volumes but dynamic early-season sales; and Lomagne produced mostly large sizes.

Despite overall good sanitary quality and storage potential, ANIAIL warns that the shortage of small calibres could disrupt 2025 marketing, calling on retailers to help valorize well-sized French garlic and support the diversity of the national sector.

The current market trend confirms these concerns. Many retailers are seeking to promote low-priced garlic, to the detriment of medium and large sizes, which are more profitable for producers. While there is still room for all production at present, considerable concern remains within the French industry about the future.

Netherlands: Demand shifts as buyers turn to stable supply sources
A Dutch importer states that Spanish garlic is facing “quality issues,” prompting many retailers to seek consistent alternatives. “This gap is currently being filled mainly by China,” he says. He notes that Argentina has a strong crop in terms of quality, size, and volume, which is expected to influence the market and import levels. According to the importer, France, Italy, and Spain prefer to avoid Chinese products.

Germany: Rising prices with stable supply
Prices for peeled garlic, mainly from China, have risen slightly in recent weeks. Availability remains good and stable. A gradual increase in demand is expected in the run-up to Christmas.

The domestic garlic harvest has been fairly average this year. Although no concrete figures are available, quantities from German cultivation appear to be increasing as more producers turn to garlic production (FreshPlaza.de reported).

North America: Stable supply but tighter margins due to tariffs
Garlic supply in North America is currently meeting market demand. California and China both had good crops this year, offsetting more challenging seasons in Mexico and Spain. Demand, however, is slower than at the same time last year.

Argentina is the next Southern Hemisphere supplier to enter the market. Harvesting is underway, with reports indicating better quality and yields than last season. New-crop Argentinian garlic is expected to enter the U.S. market in December.

Prices remain similar to last year, but margins are tighter due to tariffs on imported garlic. These tariffs range from 10 to 50 percent depending on the country of origin. The tariff landscape has also led to transshipping from countries that are net importers of garlic, adding further complications to the market. Holiday demand is expected to lift garlic sales through December.

South Africa: Garlic oversupply and pricing pressure
There is an abundance of garlic, both imported and domestically grown, on the markets, with an average price of R43.50 (€2.5). A garlic grower says this has resulted in slow sales. Northern growers are finishing up, and southern garlic growers will start sending to market.

In October, municipal markets received significantly more garlic than in the preceding four years, although November volumes are lower than in 2024 and 2023 year-to-date.

There are persistent rumours of garlic being smuggled to avoid the anti-dumping duty of R19.25 (just under €1) per kilogram on fresh garlic imported from the People’s Republic of China. A grower alleges that such garlic, even sold outside the Durban municipal market, is priced at levels with which neither domestic growers nor legitimate importers can compete.

New virus-free genetic material yielding large cloves in areas where brown onions can also be grown could potentially increase the competitiveness of South African-grown garlic.

Egypt: Exports rising, but seed and weather concerns persist
Egypt’s garlic industry continues to expand, with strong international demand attracting more growers and driving a marked increase in acreage and expected volumes for the coming season. Garlic acreage in Egypt has traditionally followed a cyclical pattern, with strong years followed by weaker ones, but recent seasons have shown continued momentum.

According to one exporter, “The acreage has increased much more this year than last year. This is mainly due to the good season Egypt had last year due to many factors in various competing origins.” Spain, the largest garlic producer in Europe and the third largest globally after China and Argentina, increased its garlic imports from Egypt by 500% year-on-year in 2025, reflecting shifts in the global industry linked to lower yields, higher costs, and limited labour in competing origins.

The rapid expansion of acreage is, however, accompanied by challenges for the upcoming season, particularly regarding seed supply and weather conditions. A grower notes, “While overall production volumes are expected to increase significantly next season, it remains to be seen what the exportable volumes will be. Several factors come into play, such as the development of seeds, while the weather is still hot in Egypt, which is not a good sign for garlic quality.” He adds that recent developments will help position Egypt among the world’s leading garlic-producing countries.

Egypt’s fresh garlic season typically begins in January, with the drying phase for dry and semi-dry garlic starting in March.

China: China enters the main garlic export season with steady orders and limited volatility
China is currently in the peak export period for Christmas garlic shipments, and the market is operating steadily. Export orders over recent weeks have been regular, with pricing holding firm. Demand appears slightly lower than in the past two seasons, resulting in moderate overall market activity that remains manageable for exporters and buyers.

This season’s garlic quality is reported to be high, with clean and firm bulbs. A large harvest and lower shipping costs compared with last year are contributing to relatively low export prices and broader competitiveness. Current garlic prices are several hundred yuan per ton below the levels seen at the same time last year. Over the past two years, prices have remained within a narrower, more predictable range without the sharp fluctuations experienced earlier, creating more stable trading conditions.

Despite competitive pricing, total export volume has decreased compared with the previous two years, likely linked to reduced purchasing from the international food service sector.

A brief period of price speculation occurred in October. Heavy rainfall affected some producing regions during the crucial planting window for the new crop, prompting market players to anticipate possible production losses and attempt to lift prices. This led to a short-lived increase. By late October, weather conditions improved, planting progressed normally, and speculative activity eased, allowing prices to return to stable levels.

Regional demand patterns have shifted. Exports to African markets, historically among the most consistent destinations, have fallen sharply this year. Meanwhile, several European markets have recorded year-on-year growth of around 10 percent, partly offsetting declines elsewhere.

Looking ahead, the late arrival of the rainy season and abundant precipitation delayed the main planting period. As planting is now nearing completion, labour availability for garlic processing is expected to increase, which may ease labour costs and place slight downward pressure on prices. Any decline is expected to be limited, and the overall market outlook remains stable heading into the next phase of the season.

Peru: Cheaper imports put further pressure on Peruvian garlic prices
The Peruvian garlic season is increasing in volume, but prices continue to decline under pressure from lower-priced Chinese products offered at about €10 per box (USD 11). Peruvian garlic is currently trading at around €26 per box (USD 28). Larger harvests in Argentina and Chile are adding to regional saturation and pushing prices further downward.

More than 85 percent of Peru’s garlic exports are shipped to Mexico, where ongoing Chinese smuggling continues to impact market values. Although logistics remain favourable, the overall market is unstable and trending downward.

Brazil: Carryover stocks and weak demand weigh on prices
The Brazilian garlic market remains depressed due to large carryover stocks, increased domestic production, and continued inflows of Chinese garlic. The removal of antidumping measures is allowing imports at about €15.40–€15.50 per box (USD 16.90–17), reaching an end cost of roughly €22.80 per box (USD 25). This is pulling down prices for all origins.

Local production costs are near 120 reais, approximately €20, leaving producers with minimal margins. International buyers are anticipating further price declines, adding to market uncertainty.

Argentina: Regional prices capped by low-cost Chinese and Brazilian competition
Argentina’s garlic production is up by an estimated 20–25 percent, entering a market under pressure from low-priced Chinese supply at about €10.00 per box (USD 11) and Brazil’s price ceiling of roughly €15.50 per box (USD 17). Argentina’s regional reference price is around €21 (USD 23), but the continued flow of Asian garlic is limiting any price recovery.

Reduced competitiveness in Brazil is redirecting part of Argentina’s volume toward Mexico, a market already saturated, thereby maintaining weakened price conditions.

Chile: High production faces pressure
Chile has strong garlic yields this season, but sales remain constrained by global market conditions. Chinese garlic is entering international markets at about €10.00 per box (USD 11), well below Chilean prices, which average approximately €20 (USD 22).

Reduced competitiveness in Brazil, where the reference price is around €15.50 per box (USD 17), is pushing Chilean exporters to redirect volumes to Mexico and other destinations that are already saturated. Oversupply and declining global prices continue to complicate Chile’s export outlook.

Mexico: High volumes meet price volatility and cautious buying
Mexico is receiving substantial garlic volumes from Peru, Argentina, and Chile, but prices are being influenced by smuggled Chinese garlic entering at below €10.00 per box (USD 11). Abundant regional supply and price pressure from Brazil, where the reference level is about €15.50 per box (USD 17), are keeping buyers cautious. The market is operating with low prices, strong competition, and high volatility.

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