The ASOEX Citrus Committee has issued a new estimate for June's citrus export volumes, following the impact of frost and the recent rains.
In this new estimate, shipments are expected to have reached 348,000 tons, 30% more than the volumes exported last season and 3% less than the previous estimate, made in May.
"Frost damage to citrus was fairly limited, but some orchards were hit, mainly in the O'Higgins region," said Juan Enrique Ortúzar, president of the Committee. Regarding the rains, Ortúzar said that the impact on citrus has been positive in general. "Although the harvests have to be brought to a halt for a few days, it is possible to ensure some water supply, at least for the winter, when irrigation canals need to be cleaned. There were a few cases of orchards that suffered flooding, because they were in low areas, but nothing major."
The first estimates in April this year foresaw export volumes reaching 55,000 tons for clementines, 125,000 tons for mandarins, 95,000 tons for oranges and 75,000 tons for lemons. In May, the mandarin volume was updated to 135,000 tons. The latest estimates point to 58,000 tons of clementines exported, as well as 125,000 tons of mandarins, the same volume of oranges and 70,000 tons of lemons.
For her part, the manager of the Citrus Committee, Monserrat Valenzuela, said that "the estimated volumes always fluctuate, as they are affected by external factors whose magnitude differs per season, like the weather conditions, freight costs or logistics and market issues; thereby the importance of updating the estimates throughout the season and informing of possible fluctuations in the export volumes."
Volumes as of week 25
As of week 25, clementine exports amounted to 51,474 tons, which is 76% more than in the same period of the 2022 season. As for mandarins, with the season just starting, 59 tons have been exported. Orange shipments reached 11,014 tons, which is 45% more than in the same period of the previous season. Lastly, the volume of lemons reached 14,287 tons, which is 5% less than in the previous season.
For more information:
Comité de Cítricos Asoex
www.comitedecitricos.cl