Southern hemisphere citrus production in 2009 is set to fall on last year’s levels.
According to data just released by European trade body Freshfel and southern hemisphere group SHAFFE, citrus output is forecast to decline by 4.7 per cent on last year’s levels to 6.96 million tonnes. Exports are also expected to decrease by 5.5 per cent to 2.319mt.
However, the situation in each country varies slightly and although the lemon forecast in Argentina is for a three per cent larger crop, exports are likely to decline by more than a quarter to 300,000t.
In Uruguay, total citrus production is likely to be down by 13 per cent, but export output is forecast to fall by only six per cent. Peru is expecting a two per cent decrease in its output, although export volumes are likely to show a much greater slide of 21 per cent as orange sendings decline by 78 per cent, according to the SHAFFE predictions. This is despite a five per cent increase in the overall crop.
South Africa and Chile are forecasting three and two per cent increases in their citrus output and overall grapefruit crops and exports are likely to rise by 6.9 per cent and 14 per cent respectively from all southern hemisphere sources.
Freshfel delegate general Philippe Binard told freshinfo that there are a number of conclusions that can be drawn from the figures, as well as some areas of concern that exporters and importers will be able to watch carefully.
He said: “This season there has been more lemon production from Spain and prices have been lower. Also there is lower consumption due to decreased demand from the foodservice sector because of the global economic recession. The largest southern hemisphere lemon producer, Argentina, has strong demand from processing so this year they will probably send more fruit to that market, which will bring balance to Europe.”
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