The rise in fruits and vegetables is mainly due to increased imports. Already the increase in the price of canning tuna does not have an apparent explanation.
Food prices in Portugal continue to record significant climbs, especially in products such as fruit, vegetables and fish preserves, according to recent data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) and Deco Proteste. In July, the price index of uncovered food products accelerated for the sixth consecutive month, reaching 6.1%compared to the 4.7% registered in June.
A Fruit was the main engine of this climbwith a 10%homologous variation. Between July 30 and August 6, according to Deco Proteste, products with the highest percentage increases included the onion (+13%), the tuna in vegetable oil (+10%) and the Golden apple (+9%). In the same period, the pill tomato registered an 18%rise, reaching 2.45 euros per kilo.
The canned tuna, which is the canned product most consumed by Portuguese families, has presented significant increases throughout the year. Only in the week between July 30 and August 6, the tuna can in vegetable oil (120g liquid) rose 10%to 1.60 euros. This trend has been repeated since February, with several weeks of consecutive climbs. Interestingly, according to the National Association of Fish Conservation Industrials (ANICP), the cost of raw materials and other components remains stable, There is no justification evident for the worsening prices on the shelves.
In the row of the vegetables, the intense rains of spring delayed sowing and reduced the offer, causing greater dependence on imports. In the case of fruits, problems such as the proliferation of bacterial fire in apple and pear orchards also influenced supply and prices.
The Director General of the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED) also points to extreme heat as a cause of inflation. “In fact, it is confirmed that it was recorded an increase in the cost price due to the scarcity of product available on the market, justified by the increased temperatureswhich caused the reduction of plant productivity ”, explains Gonçalo Lobo Xavier to.
At the European level, the production of fruits and vegetables has been falling since 2021, due to more rigid production rules and extreme climate phenomena. This increases dependence on external suppliers, which is reflected in consumer prices.
For Portugal Fresh and the Portuguese Distribution Companies Association (APED), it is crucial to invest in water availability and internal production, in order to reduce imports of imports and ensure more affordable prices.
