Early estimate, on October 31, point to the reversal of the meteorological drought situation in most of the continental territory, with only the weak drought class persisting at 12.8%, in the districts of Setúbal, Beja and Faro.
The pome fruit harvest is completed, with a negative balance for pears, for the second consecutive year (30%, compared to the average of the last five years). In apples, production in Trás-os-Montes compensated for the drop recorded in Oeste region, with global production being closer to expectations (-3%, compared to the average of the last five years). In kiwi, precipitation promoted the recovery and increase in fruit size, and a production similar to that obtained in the last two years is expected. The almost production was the highest ever (53 thousand tons), due to the entry into cruise production of many orchards, mostly located in Alentejo. On the other hand, in chestnuts, meteorological conditions promoted the development of Septoria fungus, leading to significant drops in production, for the second consecutive year (-33%, compared to the average of the last five years).
The end of the irrigated spring crop campaign confirmed higher productions than last year, with tomatoes for processing reaching around 1.68 million tons (+32%), grain maize increasing by 5% and rice 10%.
In the vineyard, the prospects for quantity and quality are good, with a production estimate close to 7.3 million hectolitres, the highest since 2006.