The global garlic market is currently shaped by strong harvests, shifting trade flows, and pricing pressures. From Europe to Asia and the Americas, producers are navigating quality yields, competition from Chinese exports, and logistical or regulatory challenges.
Italy is seeing excellent early-season results in both quality and yield, but pricing remains uncertain due to Chinese competition and pending market developments. Spain reports good product quality but faces slowed EU sales as low-priced Chinese garlic floods the market, impacting export performance.
The Netherlands anticipates an early switch to Chinese garlic due to fewer import licenses and Spain's limited availability. Germany began its fresh garlic harvest in mid-May with good volume and stable prices, while domestic production continues to grow in importance. France has entered the new harvest season with good quality garlic, though slightly reduced volumes and strong competition from Chinese and Egyptian imports are weighing on prices.
Austria reports that Chinese garlic is the lowest priced in wholesale, while Italian and domestic garlic fetch premium retail rates. North America sees strong crops from Egypt and China, while Mexico leads in U.S. supply; tariffs and economic issues continue to influence trade.
Mexico maintains its leading role in garlic supply but must import during low-yield periods, opening doors for competitors. Peru has grown into a notable exporter with high-yield varieties, though freight costs and delays affect performance.
Chile enjoyed a strong season with quality yields, exporting mostly to Latin America and Europe, but faces ongoing logistics issues. Argentina has expanded production following last year's good prices, but faces Chinese pricing pressure and regional logistics hurdles.
China is entering peak export season with an abundant supply and excellent quality, but low prices and rising sea freight rates are tightening margins. Egypt experienced a late start but high volumes and large clove sizes, with strong demand across Europe, Brazil, and Asia despite pricing competition.
Italy: Harvest progresses well amid pricing uncertainty
"We are in the middle of the garlic harvesting campaign in both Italy and Spain, and the signals we've received so far are positive in terms of quality and yield," says a southern Italian operator, highlighting the strong results from the early phase of the season. "Our crops in Campania have produced excellent white and early purple garlic. Garlic aglione, also known as elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum), stood out for its quality and size. Later varieties of white garlic, from French seed, show satisfactory production in terms of both quantity and quality. The weather has been crucial in this scenario, favouring the ripening and harvesting phase. The volumes marketed so far are depleting rapidly. We've almost run out of stock," the operator adds. "Now, we are waiting for production from northern Italian areas such as Rovigo, Piacenza, and Ferrara."
As far as prices are concerned, the situation is delicate. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining the market's direction. Initial quotations have been acceptable, considering the competition from this year's high-quality Egyptian product. Production there has almost doubled. Currently, European wholesalers' warehouses are still full of Egyptian purple garlic, which affects the entire trade balance," the trader points out. What is happening in China is no less relevant: "If Chinese prices remain below €840–€930 per ton (FOB), there is a risk of a free fall in world quotations." Adding to the uncertainty are the unknowns related to U.S. trade policy.
A garlic producer in northern Italy reports that harvesting is about to begin in his area in the Emilia-Romagna region. Prospects look good, as the weather has not caused any particular problems. However, the garlic's size and quality will not be clear until it is dug. Retailers are eagerly awaiting the local crop, as their stocks from the 2024 harvest were depleted over 30 days ago. The producer, who is part of a reputable consortium, receives a good price for his garlic—around €10–12 per kilogram. The most in-demand formats among retailers are the 100- and 150-gram nets. Consortium growers are very satisfied, as they already have numerous reservations from supermarket chains.
Spain: Strong quality, but EU sales hit by Chinese imports
The Spanish garlic harvest is currently in full swing. In general, weather conditions have been favourable, resulting in high-quality production; however, from a commercial standpoint, sales in European markets have slowed due to intense pressure from low-priced Chinese garlic. "We are currently harvesting early garlic, both white and purple, with good quality thanks to dry weather and a few short heatwaves," says the Director of the largest Spanish garlic growers' association. "We've only had issues with some batches due to persistent rain and many cloudy days in March, which have caused a slight reduction in calibres and, as a result, lower yields. These were also impacted by the strict ban on the use of certain active substances in pest control," he explains.
As for purple garlic, Spain's most representative variety due to its flavour and quality, it is still too early to make an assessment. The harvest is expected to begin approximately ten days later, between late June and early July.
While garlic and processed garlic exports to the United States remain stable—or even show growth—exports to various European countries have slowed due to the pressure from Chinese garlic. "The United States is a market where Spanish garlic is purchased for its quality rather than its price. Additionally, higher tariffs on Chinese garlic in the U.S. compared to ours have resulted in Chinese garlic being redirected to other markets. China is currently shipping large volumes of older garlic stocks to the EU, where the tariff of €1.20 per kilo outside the annual duty-free quota does not prevent it from being profitable, despite the lower prices. The mass influx of old Chinese garlic is disrupting the international market and negatively impacting our exports, especially in more price-sensitive countries," the representative concludes.
Netherlands: Early demand shift to Chinese garlic expected amid tight supply
"China has harvested a strong garlic crop this season, with good volumes, quality, and sizing. Prices from China have opened lower than in the past two years. However, importers have received significantly fewer import licenses — only 78% of the usual allocation, which is expected to lead to a shortage of Chinese garlic and drive prices up on the European market," one importer explains.
"In Spain, the total acreage planted with garlic has declined considerably. Nevertheless, yields per hectare have been solid, meaning overall availability is expected to be roughly on par with last season. That volume, however, will not be sufficient to meet Europe's total demand, making imports essential. Following two years of lower quality and unreliable supply from Spain, we're seeing several major retailers preparing to switch to Chinese garlic at the very start of the season — a shift that typically occurs much later. I anticipate that early-season prices will be slightly below last year's levels, but it certainly won't be a cheap market."
Germany: Fresh harvest underway with solid quality and volumes
The German harvest of fresh garlic began in mid-May. Quantities and quality have been satisfactory so far. Prices are currently at around the same level as last year. Many farmers now produce garlic as a sideline, which has led to a considerable increase in total harvest volume in recent years. However, the domestic supply tends to decline somewhat towards July and August. Competition from Dutch fresh garlic has visibly decreased in recent years—another indication that the domestic product is gaining importance and is increasingly valued, confirms one producer.
France: Volumes slightly lower as season begins
The new French and Spanish garlic harvests are now underway. Quality appears good for both origins, though volumes are slightly lower for France and more significantly down for Spain, due to reduced planting in both countries. This campaign is particularly marked by strong competition from Chinese and, especially, Egyptian garlic in both the French and wider European markets. Prices for the new crop are also lower compared to the same period last year.
Austria: Chinese garlic cheapest on wholesale market
In the Austrian wholesale trade, garlic prices recently ranged from €4.00 to €4.20 per kilogram for Chinese origin and from €3.21 per kilogram for Spanish garlic. Retailers also sold Italian garlic at €12.80 to €13.50 per kilogram and domestic garlic starting from €12.95 per kilogram.
North America: Tariffs affect garlic trade flow
The 2025–2026 season is seeing a very good crop with large-sized bulbs and high quality from Egypt and China, both reporting strong yields and a bumper harvest. In contrast, North America has experienced cooler weather, resulting in smaller sizes and lower yields, although quality from Mexico has been good. California's production remains to be determined but is expected to lag.
Demand is currently balanced with supply. While Chinese supply is down due to tariffs, U.S. demand is also slow because of economic challenges. Demand for Mexican garlic is particularly strong, as Mexico is traditionally the main supplier of fresh garlic to the United States during May and June. In response to this strong demand, partly driven by Chinese tariffs, Egypt is also shipping significant volumes of garlic to North America.
Prices remain stable. Although tariffs had previously set a ceiling for Chinese garlic prices, the current 90-day U.S.–China tariff pause and ongoing trade negotiations have allowed fresh Chinese garlic shipments to resume.
Mexico: Production strong, but off-season gaps persist
Mexico remains one of the leading garlic producers and consumers in the region, with approximately 17,000 hectares under cultivation. Its proximity to the United States and tariff-free access make it a key supplier to that market. However, in recent seasons, Mexico has had to import garlic to meet demand, particularly during periods of low domestic production. This has created opportunities for exporting countries such as Peru and Chile. Despite its significant production volume, Mexico continues to face the challenge of competing with the quality of fresh imported garlic during its off-season.
Peru: Productivity gains countered by logistical challenges
The Peruvian garlic market has experienced steady growth over the past decade, evolving from a marginal player to a significant exporter. The harvest season runs from September to February, taking advantage of a favorable window before products from other South American countries enter the market. The predominant variety is Chinese white garlic, which has replaced the traditional Napurí variety due to its higher productivity and greater commercial versatility. Peru has managed to gain a foothold in markets such as the United States thanks to this variety. However, it faces major logistical challenges, including high freight costs and delays that affect product quality. The country is investing in technology and aims to significantly increase its share in the global market.
Chile: Strong season aided by weather, but logistics remain a hurdle
Chile primarily produces Chinese purple garlic, with the harvest season concentrated between late October and February. The 2025 season was positive thanks to favorable weather conditions that improved yield and product quality. Most of Chile's garlic is exported to Mexico, followed by Brazil and Spain. Chile competes directly with Peru and Argentina, but its main advantage lies in offering fresh garlic while other countries rely on stored products. However, logistics remain a challenge, especially due to delays at destination ports. Another favorable weather season is anticipated, although potential downward pressure on prices may arise from Chinese competition.
Argentina: Exports overlap with Chile and Peru
Argentina shares a similar export calendar with Chile, shipping garlic from November to February. Although data remains limited, it is known that production has increased in response to strong prices during the previous year. Argentina is active in both the Mexican and U.S. markets, competing during the same export window as Chile and Peru. However, price pressure from China and ongoing regional logistical challenges may affect the profitability of the upcoming season.
China: Expanded acreage and quality boost output
Since mid-May, Chinese garlic has gradually entered the harvest stage. The crop remains slightly damp and is currently being dried. A small quantity has already been exported, and the peak export season is expected to begin in mid-June.
China's main garlic-producing areas include Jinxiang in Shandong, Pizhou in Jiangsu, and Qixian and Zhongmou counties in Henan. The planting area in these key regions is roughly in line with previous years, with a slight increase. In addition, secondary and emerging regions have expanded. Overall, the total planted area is about 10% higher than last year.
Weather conditions during harvest have been favorable, with no rainfall, aiding ripening and storage. As a result, quality is excellent. There is a marked increase in garlic sized above 5.5 cm, and the output of white-skinned garlic has risen by approximately 25% year-on-year.
Due to the expanded acreage and higher yields, supply is abundant, making it difficult to sustain high prices. Current prices are generally lower than in previous years. The purple-skinned Jiangjun Red variety is visually attractive and popular with overseas buyers but remains relatively expensive. Garlic of size 6.0 is currently priced between approximately €1,215 and €1,280 per ton at the production site.
Export volumes are expected to peak around June 15. With prices low, international demand is active. However, rising sea freight costs are putting pressure on margins. For example, shipping rates to South America have more than doubled since June, now ranging from around €935 to €1,400. Despite this, the overall impact on export activity remains limited.
Egypt: Clove size and export interest remain high
The Egyptian garlic season began later than usual due to an extended winter. The campaign started in January for fresh garlic and in April for dry garlic. Production was significant, as the cultivated surface area nearly doubled in line with the crop's low year/high year cycle. Clove size has also been strong, with a large share of big cloves reported by several producers and exporters.
The season opened with strong demand. Egyptian fresh garlic was eagerly awaited in traditional markets across Eastern Europe and the Balkans, with improved interest from Western Europe, particularly the Netherlands, as well as Brazil. The dry garlic campaign mirrored this pattern, driven by strong demand from established markets such as Brazil and Taiwan, alongside additional interest from Eastern Europe and North Africa.
Exporters have expressed differing views on pricing, largely due to internal competition. However, most industry sources noted that prices have stabilized compared to last season. One exporter commented, "There is certainly a lot of competition, but exporters who are talking about a price below €1,500 per ton for sizes 5 mm and up are surely dubious, since that is the cost price for exporters."
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