Large sizes in counts of 36 for example have been commanding prices of up to 1,050p on wholesale markets compared to smaller counts averaging 675p.

The Journal reported earlier this month that Spanish producers were experiencing problems on sizes and parallel prices for large and small fruit are developing. 'There is a very strong market for large fruit from the Mediterranean,' said Martin Dunnett of Capespan, which handles northern and southern hemisphere citrus. 'It is a two-tier market and sales are OK, but it is not enough to take up all the volume of small fruit.' Meanwhile, the season for easy peel fruit from the southern hemisphere is strong. Ken Smith of importer Greencell reported higher volumes of satsumas this year than last. 'Prices have not been great,' he said. 'But the into the satsuma season is not finishing too badly.' This week, Greencell was expecting its first arrivals of clementines and Clemenvilla from Argentina and Uruguay.

Dunnett also reports strong values and good quality on South African easy-peelers. 'We had a good season on satsumas last year, then clems crashed, but that is not the case this year,' he said.

Greencell expects to receive its first arrivals of lemons from Argentinean exporter San Miguel into Sheerness at the end of the month. Reports of payment difficulties and increased incidence of citrus canker in Argentina are unfounded, said Smith. 'Of course the Argentineans are exporting because they need the hard currency,' he said. 'All our regular suppliers are still supplying and yes, we have to help them out where we can by sending payment very quickly and a few advances once fruit is loaded to purchase packaging, but that is only normal.' Alleged problems with canker in the main lemon production area of Tucuman in plots registered as canker free and suitable for export to the EU, have not been confirmed and Smith reports 'business as usual.'

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