The Argentinean lemon export campaign is off to a slow start with the first shipment of the season to Russia set to leave in Week 15 followed by sendings to the European Union (EU) in May.
Rainfall in January and February delayed fruit development, while poor demand on external markets (especially the EU) have pushed back the normal season start, according to Argentinean fruit analyst Top Info Marketing.
“Normally, exports to Russia start in March and to the EU between the end of March and the beginning of April,” Top Info’s Betina Ernst told Fruitnet.com.
“But this year there wasn’t a single shipment in March because the fruit still didn’t have the required sizing for external markets and there wasn’t any interest in Argentinean lemons.”
Top Info said competition from Spain’s lemon sector is pushing down demand and prices which is setting the scene for a difficult export season as internal costs continue to rise in Argentina.
Total exports of Argentinean lemons are estimated to reach 260,000 tonnes in 2011, compared with 203,033 tonnes last year, according to figures from the Southern Hemisphere Association of Fresh Fruit Exporters (Shaffe).
Production this year is forecast at 1.25m tonnes, following one the lowest crops of the last 10 years in 2010.
“It’s estimated that volume didn’t even reach 1m tonnes,” says Ms Ernst. “This year a solid production recovery is expected thanks to a more favourable climate.”
The 2011 season is progressing “favourably”, according to Top Info Marketing, with the groves in recovery following two years of drought. Already there is much fruit on the trees and quality is looking good, although sizes have yet to firm up.
The full harvest is expected to ramp up this month with a higher rate of collections in Tucumán – Argentina’s largest lemon-growing region – and continued picking in Jujuy and Salta.
The full report will be published in the May issues of Eurofruit and Asiafruit Magazines as well as the June/July issue of Americafruit Magazine.
