Spanish citrus exports have recorded a 3 per cent increase in prices received for produce this season despite a “clear fall” in the volume of tonnage shipped from the country, according to official figures.
The economic value of Spain’s citrus exports until the end of May this year reached over €2.27bn compared with €2.2bn during the same period a year before. Valencian fresh produce association La Unió said the increase was the result of a 21 per cent rise in the price received for exports, from €0.62 per kg last year to €0.75 per kg this season.
However, La Unió said the Ministry of Industry figures had shown a “spectacular fall” in the level of citrus exports during the season, with shipments dropping by 15 per cent from more than 3.5m tonnes during the 2006/07 campaign to just over 3m tonnes this year.
The association said exported volumes of oranges had fallen by 13 per cent and mandarin oranges by 12 per cent. Lemon export volumes suffered the most severe fall, of 31 per cent compared with the year before.
Josep Botella, general secretary of La Unió, said: “The figures reflect the present situation in the Valencian citrus sector: citrus marketing, despite all the complaints, is still gaining money from exports, while citrus production continues to experience problems.
“The prices received in the countryside are not compensating for the major reduction in the crop for this campaign, which is on the point of being completed.”
