Madagascar’s vanilla harvest promises strong yields amid market challenges
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Madagascar’s Minister of Industrialization and Trade, David Ralambofiringa, has announced a strong vanilla harvest this year.
Speaking to the press, he highlighted the positive yield but cautioned about export challenges that could impact the industry’s stability in the months ahead.
Despite the healthy production levels, the projected volume of vanilla exports for the 2024-2025 season will fall short of last year’s record of 4,400 tonnes.
Of that total, only 3,000 tonnes were successfully sold on the international market, leaving a substantial surplus stored abroad.
This stockpiling, according to the ministry, risks complicating next year’s exports.
The presence of excess supply could trigger downward pressure on vanilla prices due to a growing imbalance between global supply and demand.
This potential decline is being closely monitored, with industry stakeholders aware of the economic implications for Madagascar, the world’s leading vanilla producer.
The vanilla harvesting and export season, which began in October 2024, will continue through June 2025. During this period, all licensed exporters are required to declare their stocks.
The regulation is aimed at enhancing market oversight and mitigating supply-related tensions that have historically plagued the sector.
In response to these challenges, strategic discussions are underway to redefine Madagascar’s vanilla sector for the medium term.
The National Vanilla Council, working alongside the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade, plans to convene talks on measures to strengthen the industry over the next three to five years.
The initiative reflects a commitment to sustaining the value of one of the nation’s most prized exports, while addressing market dynamics that impact growers and exporters alike.
