Blockade on French routes hits Alicante farmers and exporters hard

The blockade and attacks on Spanish trucks carrying agricultural products in France have far-reaching effects on the Alicante province’s farming sector. The halt to normal transport disrupted harvests of several fruits and vegetables, notably citrus, and slowed operations in export warehouses where stockpiles keep piling up. Concerns mount over European deliveries delayed by the disruptions and the risk that perishable goods in storage may spoil before they reach buyers.

José Vicente Andreu, president of Asaja Alicante and a citrus grower tied to a Valencia exporter, described a directive to stop harvesting until further notice due to the growing stock in storage. He stated that the present situation feels like helplessness driven by uncertainty. He added that at times French blockades prevent movement, while on other days open roads allow customers to accuse producers of not meeting commitments by failing to deliver goods.

Andreu argued that these events unfold amid arguments used by French farmers to justify protests that he regards as incorrect. He asserted that there is no unfair competition because the same rules apply on both sides of the border.

The Asaja Alicante president also voiced concerns about warehouses filling up with goods. He noted that citrus fruit stores keep fruit usable for longer periods, but certain items such as artichokes and broccoli deteriorate within four to five days.

One firm focused on exporting these products is Olé, based in the Oriola district of San Bartolomé. The company has not halted operations, but sales volumes have fallen, causing delays in fieldwork and greater stock accumulation. Handling and packaging activities in warehouses have been paused temporarily.

Fruani, another citrus exporter in Orihuela, has a manager who spoke about distribution delays and fears that the situation could worsen as days pass.

The government is concerned about attacks on Spanish trucks and seeks assurances of safety for cross-border shipments

Salvador Hernández, president of Surinver, a vegetable company based in Pilar de la Horadada, noted that transporters have scaled back trips through France because of safety fears, a trend reflected in shipments. He commented that the situation is not a full-blown disaster yet since it came outside peak season, but the impact is gradual and noticeable as stock accumulates.

The disruptions also hit a large number of exporters who must reduce activity in Camp d’Elx. A manager described the situation: five trucks per day are typical, but at present none are loaded, signaling a stark change for the business.

Stuck vehicles

The company operates its own fleet and currently has eight vehicles stranded in France or en route with limited distribution. Four trucks were sent to the Perpignan platform, where the goods remained undelivered to customers, while four more headed to Italy, Belgium and Germany at various points, according to the business owner who oversees origin verification for a local pomegranate variety.

To cope with the blockage, packing yard operators were sent home on a recent Monday and Tuesday. Nearly a hundred workers began storing produce from the field, especially zucchini, peppers and eggplants this season, along with the latest pomegranate harvest, in rooms and warehouses.

Currently, no product has had to be discarded, but customers have started reporting quality issues due to delays in perishable items. The company’s leader mourns that orders have begun to dwindle, noting that some customers who received Friday shipments on Monday expressed dissatisfaction and rejected the products.

More than a thousand trucks cross the Alicante border every day

The blockade concerns echo through transport companies as losses grow with each passing day of protests. The Spanish Confederation of Freight Transport (CETM) estimated the daily damage at about 600 euros per truck, noting that more than 20,000 cargo vehicles pass the border daily. The implication is a potential 12 million euros in losses per day.

Fetrama projects that in Alicante more than a thousand vehicles routinely travel border routes and will be affected by French farmer protests. He affirmed that many blocked trucks were later able to move, but overall times remain well above normal, more than double, reducing loading capacity and hurting regional businesses.

Regarding incidents against Spanish transporters in France, Fetrama reported only one case: a truck was stopped, doors forced open, and three pallets of vegetables thrown from the vehicle.