Growth of around 4 per cent compared with previous season is largely due to expansion in lime production, says FAS report
Mexico’s total fresh citrus production – including oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit – is expected to grow by 4 per cent in 2024/25, driven primarily by an increase in lime production.
According to a report by the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, the country’s lemon/lime production is set to reach 35mn tonnes this season, following a rise in harvested area to 212,000ha.
Fresh orange production is predicted at 5.05mn tonnes, 2 per cent above the previous marketing year and only marginally higher, due to unstable environmental conditions that brought prolonged drought, high temperatures and erratic rainfall to the main producing regions.
However, the report suggests producers expect improved environmental conditions that will aid in tree recovery and produce higher quality fruit.
Grapefruit volume is expected to be around 489,000 tonnes, a minimal increase on 2023/24.
Orange juice production will increase following several years of lower production due to fruit quality issues, while more favourable conditions have already helped growers to achieve better quality fruit through the latter half of 2023/24.
As a result, the report said, producer sentiment and market demand remains positive for the current campaign.
