Cooperation with agricultural organizations such as Asaja, COAG, UPA, Agrifood Cooperatives, FIAB, Aecoc, ACES, Anged, Asedas, Cedecarne, Fedepesca, and the Hospitality of Spain alongside the Restoration Brands and the broader Spanish agri-food and accommodation sectors has warned that the agri-food chain cannot or will not withstand a new disruption in road transport. This concern was voiced in a joint statement.
In particular, the agro-food sector has expressed the utmost worry about repeating events that caused supply chain problems last March due to the serious consequences a transport stoppage would have on both companies and consumers. The message is clear: another strike would inflict widespread losses on many operators who are already grappling with an unprecedented economic and geopolitical climate.
These organizations are determined not to expose the transport sector to a fresh threat that would compound the already fragile state of this essential sector, which continuously strives to guarantee the supply of food and basic goods to the public. They stressed that providing a basic service to ensure food products reach households remains a recognized public priority, a standard affirmed during the pandemic. Citizens have the right to access this service at all times, and operators retain the right to deliver it under any circumstances.
The agri-food chain highlighted that the agriculture sector is in the midst of its peak summer fruit campaign, with much of the production destined for international markets. A strike could impair the sector’s ability to meet global demand and could damage its prestige, potentially leading to the loss of export destinations. The industry underscored that the situation is particularly acute at the start of the campaign, with a real risk of wasting a large portion of perishable fruit and the substantial harm that would follow.
Efficient supply means fresh produce moving from farm to fork within 24 hours, leaving storage capacity extremely limited. Perishable goods cannot be stored for long, so transport disruption would cause massive product losses and escalate food waste. These strikes could jeopardize the entire food industry; if basic products fail to reach factories, production would halt, and costs tied to preservation or waste would rise sharply. Returning to normal operations could take weeks, prolonging food insecurity for the population.
The warning extends to the wider economic impact, including significant losses in wages, social contributions, taxes, farm inputs, and the maintenance of cold-chain systems across origin stockists, fisheries, industries, logistics platforms, and other chain operators. In this context, the sector reminds society that it has endured a very difficult period and made a considerable effort amid inflationary pressures. Energy prices, fuel costs, and the price and availability of raw materials remain challenging constraints that the industry must navigate, particularly given the effects of the prior transport shutdown and ongoing financial and regulatory pressures. [Attribution: Spanish agricultural associations and industry bodies]
Summer tourism and hospitality bear close watch as the campaign progresses. Food distribution will require stringent measures to redistribute stock to retailers and reorganize the current assortment to prevent shortages. Store closures, workforce pressure, and the difficulty of rapidly restoring normal supply could disrupt trade and undermine consumer confidence. The hotel sector, which fuels the summer tourism boom, faces a serious impact as restoration and tourism activities again face supply threats, potentially tarnishing Spain’s image as a national and international travel destination.
Although production cannot be disentangled from the cooperative framework and the operational capacity of businesses, origin stockists, fish markets, industries, logistics platforms, and the entire chain could suffer substantial economic losses in wages, taxes, agricultural inputs, livestock maintenance, and cold-chain upkeep. The agri-food chain emphasizes that society has endured a very challenging period and has worked hard to manage inflation and rising costs for energy, fuel, fertilizers, and raw materials. The consequences of previous transport shutdowns linger, and the industry continues to face financial pressure and regulatory costs as it works to recover. [Attribution: Industry stakeholders]