The Union of Farmers of Castilla and León (UCCL) has warned of the "strong increase" in honey imports from Mercosur countries since the trade agreement with the European Union began to be applied.
According to the agricultural organization, based on official foreign trade data, between May and July 2026, the EU acquired 12,692.51 tons of honey from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, which represents an increase of 94.2 percent compared to the 6,535.59 tons recorded in the same period of 2025.
UCCL highlights that the evolution of July is "especially significant" because only in that month 6,269.81 tons of honey from Mercosur entered, compared to the 2,248.10 tons of July 2025, "which represents a year-on-year increase of 178.9 percent." In this way, in a single month, "practically" the same volume of honey has been imported as during May, June, and July 2025.
According to these figures, Argentina concentrates the majority of purchases: of the 6,269.81 tons accounted for in July, 5,343.34 tons —more than 85 percent— came from this country, followed by Uruguay, with 635.35 tons, and Brazil, with 291.12 tons.
The organization also emphasizes that, in addition to the strong increase in imports, the fact that the tariff quota for honey from Mercosur has already exceeded the amount available in its first application period is added.
In light of this situation, the OPA has requested the European Commission for "enhanced and specific monitoring" of the honey market and "permanent information" on the volumes from Mercosur, the entry prices, the countries of origin, and the degree of utilization of the tariff quotas.
It also demands close monitoring of the price evolution that European beekeepers receive "and that, in the event of any serious market disruption or proven harm to producers, the safeguard instruments provided for in the EU-Mercosur trade framework are used without delay."
"The Commission cannot limit itself to observing the evolution of imports. If in the first three months of application the imports of honey from Mercosur have practically doubled and the amount available from the first tariff quota has already proven insufficient, there are sufficient reasons to intensify monitoring from this moment," concluded the OPA.