Israeli producers are celebrating an excellent citrus season, with volumes in the UK said to be up by 50 per cent.
In total, the Israeli citrus sector exported 180,000 tonnes of citrus fruit, up 30 per cent on the previous season, said Tal Amit, general manager of Citrus Sector at the Plants Production and Marketing Board.
In summing up the season, Amit noted that the revenues for the growers were this season the highest in the last two decades.
The UK market saw a big boost this season, according to Dov Warmen, md of MTEX UK, who said citrus sales across all varieties were up by 50 per cent this year.
“We’ve had very good demand this season,” he said and as well as meeting all its programmed business with its retail customers, MTEX UK also picked up extra business from other retailers.
The main reason for the boost was the poor citrus season in other areas, said Warmen. “There was a shortage in the market because of the problems in Florida, as well as in Spain and Morocco.”
He said the main gains were made in grapefruit, followed by easy peelers. “We also did a little more in oranges,” he added.
Israel’s total yield amounted to 645,000t, and apart from the export volume, 160,000t tonnes were routed to the local market, and 305,000t for industrial processing, up 50 per cent on the 2003-04 season.
Sales revenues totalled $230 million, of which export generated $150 million, an increase of 100 per cent compared with the previous year.
According to Amit, Israel exports 25 varieties of citrus fruit, led by grapefruits with 72,000t of both white and red varieties; Shamouti oranges 26,500t; “Or” easy peeler 9,000t (a 200 per cent increase in volume); Sweetie 15,000t; and the easy peeler “Mor”, with 3,000t, up 160 per cent against last year.
Grapefruit exports rose considerably off the back of strong prices in the European markets, with 65 per cent of exports going to western Europe. Out of that, 50 per cent of the volume goes to the UK.
Amit said Israel is undergoing massive planting of citrus trees, especially in the north and central regions of the country, adding that nurseries cannot supply growers’ demand for the forthcoming season.
He estimated that planted areas will expand this year by five per cent, covering a total area of 18,000 hectares
