The 2013/14 Spanish citrus export campaign has got off to a slow start as unseasonably high temperatures cause delays in fruit coloration.
Pepe Vercher of Bollo International Fruits said harvesting was running about 10 days later than usual. Fruit quality is reported to be good, although lower-than-average rainfall in recent months means that sizes are somewhat smaller this year.
Prices on European markets are reported to be firm, with the onset of cooler temperatures expected to boost demand in the coming weeks. This year, exporters are turning their focus increasingly to markets outside the EU such as Russia and the Middle East where demand continues to grow.
In spite of the delayed harvest, shipments to North America are running slightly earlier than in previous years, with the first consignment of US-bound clementines departing from Castellón on Thursday bound for Philadelphia. The 3,000-tonnes shipment is made up principally of the early-season Marisol variety.
