The Uruguayan citrus industry has lost almost 36 per cent of its production volume to severe frosts not experienced in the country since 1967, according to reports in the local press.
The ministry of agriculture estimates that over 115,000 tonnes have been cut from the 318,000-tonne crop previously forecast for this season, which translates into more than 50 per cent of Uruguay’s export offer for 2012, El Observador reported.
The frost damage equates to losses of US$35m for the South American country’s citrus sector, of which US$12m relate to salary losses.
The inclement weather has mainly affected the northern producing areas of Uruguay, in Salto and Paysandú, where 80 per cent of the citrus crop is grown.
Temperatures are reported to have fallen as low as -4oC in some areas.
Uruguay’s largest citrus grower-exporter Citrícola Salteña (Caputto) told Eurofruit, Asiafruit and Americafruit that the industry faces “a lot of problems” this season following the “big frost”.
Last year, Uruguay exported 120,000 tonnes of citrus, worth some US$76m, according to El Observador.
