The mushroom market - Spain (2024)

1.2 A stable global market dominated by China

The global mushroom market is expected to grow rapidly, with an estimated CAGR of *.**% over the period ****-****. In ****, the market was valued at $**.** billion. This trend is expected to continue steadily, with forecasts of $**.** billion in ****, $**.** billion in ****, and $**.** billion in ****. Growth will continue beyond that, reaching **.** billion in ****, ***.** billion in ****, and ***.** billion in ****. In ****, the market is forecast at $***.** billion, peaking at $***.** billion in ****, showing strong potential for expansion in the years ahead.

The global mushroom market World, ****-****, $ billion Source: ****

The many health benefits of mushrooms are driving growing demand worldwide. This is particularly true of the Asia-Pacific region, which dominates the market with extremely high demand for mushrooms from Japan, China and even India. Global production is thus dominated by Asia, and China in particular:

Global distribution of truffle and mushroom production World, ****, % (***) Source: ****

In fact, in ****,China dominated the market with **.*** million tonnes produced, compared with ***,*** tonnes for Japan, the world's second largest producer. This is around ** times more than its Japanese competitor.

Main mushroom-producing countries World, ****, thousands of tonnes Source: ****

The global mushroom market is classified into categories based on different storage methods. A distinction is made between fresh and processed mushrooms (***).

In fact, demand ...

1.3 The European market dominated by Poland

In Europe, mushroom production has remained broadly stable in recent years, at around *,***,*** tonnes a year. A distinction is made between fresh and processed mushrooms (***). The desired shelf life, the clientele and transport time all determine the fate of mushroom production.

European mushroom production Europe, **** - ****, in thousands of tons Source: ****

In ****, ** countries will account for **% of mushroom production: Italy, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. Poland is by far the biggest market, with ***,*** tonnes of mushrooms produced. Italy produces around **,*** tonnes of mushrooms.

Exports are mainly destined for the European market. Exports to third countries are mainly to the United States. Thanks to an increase in quotas, the USA will account for **% of non-EU exports by ****.

1.4 The Spanish market

**% of mushrooms produced in Spain are champigons de Paris. In order to estimate the national mushroom market in Spain, we based ourselves on the * channels of mushroom consumption in this country: the domestic consumption channel for fresh mushrooms, the domestic consumption channel for processed mushrooms and finally the channel linked to the hotel and catering sector.

Given that certain data were missing, notably concerning the sales generated by mushrooms within the HORECA industry, and domestic consumption of processed mushrooms in ****, we proceeded as follows to estimate the market:

Domestic mushroom consumption in ****: given that per capita consumption of this product remained stable between **** and **** (***), we have assumed the same stability for **** and therefore the same total consumption for this product category between **** and ****. HORECA sales: we have multiplied the average market price in ****, i.e. €*.**/kg, by the total quantities consumed in this segment between **** and ****.

Between **** and ****, the different categories of the Spanish mushroom market have thus evolved in contrasting ways: Domestic consumption of fresh mushrooms: In ****, this category generated sales of €***.** million. In ****, with the impact of the pandemic and changes in consumption habits, this figure jumped to ***.** million, an increase of **.**%. In ****, domestic consumption of fresh mushrooms fell ...

1.5 Foreign trade

In order to study Spanish foreign trade in mushrooms, we will use the HS **** statistical code defined by the UN as: "Mushrooms and truffles, prepared or preserved (***). On the import side, they fluctuated, with a notable drop in **** to $*.*** million (***). Thetrade surplus remained positive throughout the period, peaking at $**.*** million in **** (***). These figures show that, although exports have fallen slightly by ****, Spain remains a net exporter of mushrooms over this period.

Evolution of Spanish foreign trade in mushrooms Spain, ****-****, $ million Source: ****

In ****, the destination of Spanish mushroom exports was mainly concentrated in certain key markets. France was by far the biggest importer, accounting for **.**% of Spanish exports, followed by Portugal with **.**% and the USA with *.**%. Other important destinations includedItaly(***). Finally, the rest of the world accounted for *.**% of exports, showing a relative diversification towards smaller markets.

Origin of Spanish mushroom imports Spain, ****, % of total Source: UNcometrade In ****, Spanish mushroom imports came mainly from China(***). The rest of the world accounted for *.**% of imports, underlining Spain's strong dependence on a few countries for mushroom supplies.

Destination of Spanish mushroom exports (***) Spain and the World, ****, % (***) Source: ****

2.1 Home consumption of mushrooms

Fresh mushroom consumption:

Between **** and ****, domestic consumption of fresh mushrooms in Spain showed significant fluctuations. In ****, consumption reached **.* million kg, then increased by **.*% in ****, reaching **.* million kg. However, in ****, it fell by *.*% to **.* million kg, before dropping to **.* million kg in **** and **** (***).

Sales followed a similar trajectory. In ****, it stood at ***.** million euros, rising by **% in **** to ***.** million euros. In ****, sales fell by *.*% to ***.** million euros, and in **** they fell by a further **.*% to ***.** million euros. In ****, there was a slight recovery, with sales of ***.** million euros (***).

Mushroom consumption trends Spain, ****-****, in million kg Source: ****

Between **** and ****, per-capita consumption and expenditure of fresh mushrooms in Spain have fluctuated. Per capita consumption fell from *.** kg in **** to *.** kg in ****. After rising in **** to *.** kg, it gradually fell in subsequent years. Per capita expenditure followed a similar trend, rising from *.** euros in **** to *.** euros in ****, before falling back to *.** euros in **** after a low of *.** euros in ****.

Evolution of mushroom consumption per person Spain, ****-****, in kg / euros Source: ****

In ****, fresh mushroom consumption represented *% of total fresh vegetable consumption in Spain, making it one of the least consumed types of vegetable. In comparison, fruit and potatoes each accounted for a much larger ...

2.2 Extra-domestic consumption of mushrooms

Between **** and ****, mushroom consumption in the HORECA (***) sector in Spain has seen marked variations, mainly due to the pandemic. In ****, consumption reached **.** million kg. In ****, it fell by -**.*% to *.** million kg due to COVID-** restrictions. In ****, consumption recovered with an increase of +**.*%, reaching **.** million kg. In ****, the upturn intensified, with growth of +**.*%, taking consumption to **.** million kg. Finally, in ****, a slight increase of +*.*% was observed, reaching **.** million kg.

Evolution of mushroom consumption through HORECA Spain, ****-****, million kg Source: ****

In ****, mushrooms accounted for *.*% of extra-domestic vegetable consumption in Spain, while other vegetables made up the vast majority at **.*%. This shows that, although mushrooms are consumed outside the home, they occupy a small share compared to all other vegetables in extra-domestic consumption.

Mushroom segment of extra-domestic vegetable consumption Spain, ****, % of total consumption Source: ****

Between **** and ****, extra-domestic mushroom consumption per head in Spain showed significant variations. In ****, it was *.** kg/head, but fell to *.** kg/head in ****, a drop of **.*%, due to the closure of pandemic-related establishments. In ****, consumption rebounded significantly to *.** kg/head (***), before stabilizing at *.** kg/head in **** and ****. These data show a clear recovery from the crisis, with consumption relatively stable over the last few years.

Evolution of extra-domestic ...

2.3 Consumer typology

The latest available data on mushroom consumers in Spain dates back to ****. From **** onwards, these data will be integrated into the more general category of fresh or processed vegetables. In order to obtain as much consumer information as possible, we collected the latest mushroom-specific data from **** and the new, more general vegetable data from ****. With per capita consumption of mushrooms stable since ****, we can nevertheless assume a certain stability within the profile of the mushroom consumer in Spain.

In Spain, fresh mushroom consumption was influenced by social class, according to the latest specific data for ****. In that year, the high and upper-middle classes accounted for **.*% of total fresh mushroom consumption, while the middle classes reached **.*%, the lower-middle **.*%, and the low **.*%. In ****, the fresh vegetable category (***) followed a similar trend: high and medium-high classes accounted for **.**% of consumption, medium **.**%, medium-low **.**%, and low **.**%. During this period, the composition of the population by social class remained relatively constant, with **.*% in the high and upper-middle classes, **.*% in the middle class, and **.*% in the low and middle classes.

Fresh mushroom consumption by social class Spain, ****, % Source: ****

In Spain, fresh mushroom consumption in **** varied according to age. The **-** age group accounted for **.*% of total fresh mushroom ...

2.4 Shiitake

Shiitake has grown exponentially in Spain since its introduction in the **s. Initially difficult to sell, with only ** kilos per week in ****, consumption has risen to around *,*** to *,*** kilos per week today.The price of shiitake is particularly attractive to growers, being around three times higher than that of button mushrooms and twice that of Pleurotus. Shiitake is also appreciated for its bioactive and culinary properties, making it a highly sought-after mushroom in gastronomy. Nutritionally, shiitake is rich in protein, vitamins (***) and antioxidants. It also contains compounds such as lentinan, which plays a role in modulating the immune system. The development of organic shiitake is another key factor, with annual national production of *** to *** tons, available in all the major organic chains in Spain. Spanish shiitake is also exported to several European countries, and its production is subject to strict quality standards. Shiitake has also been affected by the ban on Chinese imports treated with preservatives such as formaldehyde, which has boosted the local market for fresh or dehydrated shiitake.

Source: ****

We can now take a look at users' interest in the term "Shiitake" on Google: Interest in searching for "shiitake" on Google Spain, **** - ****, in Google Trends index Source: Google ...

2.5 The truffle

Truffles are a luxurious type of mushroomwith high added value, produced mainly in Spain, especially the black truffle. The main advantage of this mushroom is its selling price.

In fact, even if historical price data for Spanish truffles show a high degree of volatility, the price per kilogram was between €** and €*** between **** and ****, and was therefore much higher than that of other mushrooms.

Truffle prices Vic market Spain, ****, January ****-March **** Source: ****

Truffle cultivation:

Truffles can be found naturally in forests, but they have also been cultivated since the **th century. The boom in truffle cultivation in Spain occurred in the **th century, much later than in France or Italy. They must be planted close to the roots of a tree (***), and start producing truffles after * to ** years.

Harvesting is mainly carried out with animals (***), which indicate where the truffles are located. Dogs need to be trained to do this, but pigs have a natural ability to find truffles.

Distribution of truffle-growing in Spain:

The country has a total of **,*** ha dedicated to black truffles in ****, **.*% of which are in the province of Aragon, and mainly in Teruel (***). The city represents **% of the world's truffle-growing area and in **** accounted for **% of global ...

3.1 Production and preservation methods

Production method:

The production of mushrooms, in particular Agaricus bisporus (***), involves several carefully controlled steps to ensure successful cultivation. Here are the main steps in the process:

Compost preparation: The compost used for mushroom cultivation is generally a mixture of horse manure and straw. calcium carbonate is added to balance the soil pH. This preparation forms the growing medium in which the mycelium, the underground organism of mushrooms, can develop. Composting: This process consists of breaking down organic matter (***) into a fertile substrate for mushrooms. Compost must be turned regularly to ensure even decomposition. It should be kept moist, but not over-watered, and protected from the elements. Inoculation: The mycelium is then introduced into the compost. This is done by uniformly mixing the compost with the mycelium, under very clean conditions to avoid contamination. Incubation: The inoculated compost is placed in a dark, warm room (***) for * to * weeks. During this period, the mycelium develops as white filaments throughout the compost. Brooding: After incubation, the compost is covered with a layer of moist soil or peat, which will provide the necessary conditions for mushroom development. Fructification: This is when the mushrooms start to grow. Precise humidity and temperature conditions (***) must be maintained ...

3.2 Mushroom production

By ****, **% of the mushrooms produced in Spain were button mushrooms.

Mushroom production in Spain Spain, ****, % of production Source: Financial food between **** and ****, the area dedicated to mushroom production in Spain fluctuated slightly, but declined overall. In ****, production covered **.** hectares, and in **** it increased slightly to **.** hectares (***), marking an overall reduction compared to the start of the period.

Evolution of mushroom area, production and yield in Spain Spain, ****-****, hectares, thousands of Tons, (***) Source: ****

In parallel to the change in area, total mushroom production in Spain has also seen significant variations between **** and ****. In ****, production stood at ***.** thousand tonnes, remaining stable in **** at ***.** thousand tonnes (***).

from **** onwards, production fell more sharply, dropping to ***.** thousand tonnes (***). This trend illustrates the instability of production, despite several years of strong growth.

Evolution of total mushroom production in Spain Spain, ****-****, thousands of tons Source: ****

The evolution of mushroom production yields in Spain between **** and **** reflects notable fluctuations in relation to area and total production. In ****, yield was *.*** tonnes per hectare, down slightly to *.*** tonnes per hectare in **** (***). In ****, yield fell more sharply to *.*** tonnes per hectare (***). This trend highlights the irregularity of yields, with significant peaks but also notable declines over the decade. Evolution of ...

3.3 Distribution

The latest available data on mushroom distribution dates back to ****. After this year, mushroom-specific statistics are included within the fresh or processed vegetable segment. In order to gain a better understanding of distribution in this market, we have therefore collected data from the latter segments, and highlighted the latest available data, from ****.

Fresh vegetables:

In ****, fresh vegetable distribution in Spain was mainly via supermarkets, which held **.*% of market share. Traditional stores played an important role with **%, followed by hard discount channels with **.*%. Hypermarkets accounted for *.*% of sales, while other distribution channels accounted for **.*%.E-commerce remained marginal in this sector, with only *.*% of market share, despite slight growth in recent years.

Market share by vegetable distribution channel Spain, ****, % of total Source: ****

Processed vegetables :

In ****, distribution of processed vegetables in Spain was largely concentrated in supermarkets, which held **% of market share. Hard discount channels followed with **.*%, while hypermarkets accounted for **.*% of sales. Traditional stores had a much smaller share, at just *.*%, as dide-commerce, which accounted for *.*%. Other distribution channels accounted for *.*% of market share.

Market share by distribution channel for processed vegetables Spain, ****, % Source: ****

Latest available data on mushrooms :

In ****, the latest year for which data is available, the market shares of fresh ...

4.1 The main mushroom species

By species :

The cultivated mushroom species most widely consumed in Spain are mainly the following:

Agaricus bisporus (***): This is the most widely consumed mushroom, both fresh and cultivated, in Spain and many other countries. Very versatile in the kitchen. Agaricus bitorquis (***): Less well known than the button mushroom, it is nevertheless cultivated and appreciated for its robustness and texture. Pleurotus eryngii (***): Very popular in Spain, it is appreciated for its mild flavor and fleshy texture. It is often used in stir-fries and grilled dishes. Pleurotus ostreatus (***): Very common, this mushroom is often used in vegetable dishes or stews, due to its subtle flavor and tender texture. Flammulina velutipes (***): Used mainly in Asian dishes, enoki is becoming increasingly popular in Spain, especially in soups and salads. Hypsizygus tessulatus (***): A crunchy mushroom often used in Asian dishes, especially stews and stir-fries. Lentinula edodes (***): Very popular for its health benefits, shiitake is one of the most popular mushrooms, especially in Asian dishes such as soups and stir-fries. Lepista nuda (***): These mushrooms are also eaten for their texture and sweeter taste. They are rarer and often more sought-after in Spanish cuisine. Pleurotus cornucopiae (***): This rarer mushroom is appreciated for its unique taste and delicate texture. ...

4.2 Prix

Evolution des prix : 

Entre **** et ****, le prix moyen des champignons frais en Espagne a connu une augmentation constante. En ****, le prix moyen était de *,** €/kg, puis il a légèrement augmenté en **** à *,** €/kg (***), marquant une augmentation constante sur les cinq années.

Evolution du prix moyen des champignons frais Espagne, ****-****, €/kg Source: ****

Prix moyens :

En ****, les prix moyens des champignons en Espagne varient selon les types et les lieux de vente. Le Champignon de Paris est vendu à un prix courant de *,** €/kg, tandis que son prix moyen en supérette atteint *,** €/kg. Le shiitake, un champignon plus rare et prisé, est vendu à un prix courant de *,** €/kg, avec un prix moyen en supérette de * €/kg. Les champignons génériques, quant à eux, ont un prix courant de *,** €/kg, et leur prix moyen en supérette est de * €/kg. Cela montre une différence notable entre les prix courants et ceux pratiqués en supérette.

  Prix moyens des champignons en Espagne Espagne, ****, €/kg Source : Champy academy  

Enfin, les tableaux ci-dessous présentent les prix pratiqués par Mercadona, Eroski et Carrefour en octobre ****.

Prix Mercadona, octobre **** :

Produit Format Prix Marque Poêlée de champignons Hacendado surgelée Paquet ...

4.3 The range of organic mushrooms

The organic mushroom market is booming, although its development varies from country to country. In the Netherlands, for example, demand for organic mushrooms is still relatively low compared with other European countries, but is showing a stable trend with growth prospects. Markets such as Germany and Switzerland are much further advanced in the adoption of organic products, with organic mushroom consumption four to five times higher than in the Netherlands.

One of the challenges in organic mushroom production is managing the high costs associated with production. These costs are partly offset by automation and robotization, which help maintain competitiveness by reducing labor costs. At the same time, organic producers are adopting specific practices such as the use of organic compost to guarantee mushroom quality and taste.

All in all, the organic mushroom trend is progressing, supported by the growing demand for ecological products in several European countries, although some markets are still lagging behind. The development of long-term partnerships between producers and distributors is a key factor in supporting this sustainable expansion.

Source: ****

The Setacor example:

The production of organic mushrooms, particularly through initiatives such as Setacor in Spain, is booming and stands out for its sustainable and innovative approach. Setacor, ...

4.4 Alternative uses of mushrooms: mycotherapy or fungotherapy

Fungal therapy is a form of alternative medicine derived from traditional Chinese medicine and relies on the use of certain types of fungi to treat and prevent disease. Fungal therapy is also used in other traditional Eastern medicines such as Ayurveda. The kingdom of fungi - or mushrooms, if you prefer - comprises many genera, and therefore species. They can be divided into two broad categories: higher fungi, also known as macrofungi or macroscopic fungi (***) and lower fungi, also known as microfungi or microscopic fungi.

Fungal therapy uses certain macroscopic fungi that are thought to have numerous beneficial properties for the body.

The aim of mycotherapy is to treat and prevent various types of disease through the use of certain types of macro-fungi, known as healing or medicinal mushrooms. Fungal therapy can therefore be said to have the same objectives as phytotherapy, while herbal medicine uses herbs and plants. Leaving aside the various uses of fungal therapy in traditional Eastern medicine, in the Western world it is often used primarily (***) to boost the immune system, rebalance and improve the body's health. This practice is not accepted by modern medicine and, consequently, neither its alleged efficacy nor its safety in use can ...

5.1 Marketing standards and regulations

As vegetables that are often processed or frozen, mushrooms in all their forms must comply with a number of standards.

The international food standards for fruit and vegetables are listed in this book:[***]. European Union standards for cultivated mushrooms are available in this document [***] UN and EEC standards:[***]

In general terms:

By-products must be derived from fresh mushrooms processed immediately after harvesting, before they can begin to deteriorate; Color and odor must be characteristic of the product used; The origin and place of cultivation must be indicated and verifiable;

5.2 Developments in Spanish legislation

Until ****, the sale of mushrooms for consumption in Spain was governed by a legal framework established in ****, the Spanish Food Code, which drew up a list of edible and poisonous species, supplemented by commercial quality standards for mushrooms, truffles and ceps. In recent years, general interest in collecting and consuming wild mushrooms has grown, while the market demand for new products and the appearance of species not authorized by the authorities, some of them cultivated and imported from Asian countries, which were in a legal vacuum.

On the other hand, new scientific evidence raised questions about the safety of certain traditionally consumed species. Thus, following cases of poisoning in France due to consumption of Tricholoma equestre, and invoking the precautionary principle, the Ministry of Health issued Order SCO/****/**** banning the marketing of this species as a precautionary measure.

Finally, the legal framework in force in the EU imposes health standards applicable to all foodstuffs and makes companies responsible for supplying safe products, so Spanish legislation has had to catch up in this area too.

New regulation on sanitary conditions for the marketing of mushrooms for food use:

Royal Decree **/**** regulates the sale of mushrooms and updates the list of authorized species ...

5.3 Quality labels

The following brands provide additional quality for mushrooms produced in Spain:

Setas de Casilla y León:

The Guarantee Mark: "Setas de Castilla y León" certifies that fresh, frozen or processed mushrooms bearing this mark come exclusively from the forests of the Castilla y León region. The label also guarantees that mushroom picking complies with food safety regulations, thanks to specialized supervision and product traceability.

Mushrooms from regulated forests carry this label, confirming their local origin and quality. Only products complying with the requirements of the regulations can receive this certification. Sustainable harvesting and product quality are at the heart of this mark, which is aimed at local manufacturers, processors and retailers alike.

Source: ****

Champiñón y Setas de La Rioja:

The "Champiñón y Setas de La Rioja" label has been approved by the Government of La Rioja to guarantee the high quality of mushrooms and wild mushrooms produced in this region, the national leader in mushroom production in Spain. The label distinguishes these products from imports from other countries.

It covers different species of mushrooms, such as Pleurotus, Lentinus, Lepista, among others, whether sold fresh or preserved. Products under this label are in the Extra and Premier ...

6.1 Player segmentation

• Riberebro
• Arotz
• Mercadona
• Congalsa
• Champinter
• Laumont
• Frutas E. Sánchez
• Hifas da Terra