In marketing year (MY) 2023/24, lemon production is projected to grow by 6.7 percent and reach 175,000 metric tons (MT) due to high profits and an increase in area planted. Exports will increase by 8.8 percent and reach 74,000 metric tons. In MY 2023/24, orange production will decrease by 2.2 percent and total 175,000 MT due to low profits and a decrease in area planted. Orange exports will follow the production decrease and total 90,000 metric tons. Mandarin area planted has grown rapidly over the past 10 marketing years due to high profits. As a result, in MY 2023/24 mandarin exports will increase by 7.3 percent totaling 250,000 metric tons. In March 2023, Chile gained access to the Mexican market for lemons, clementines, and mandarins under an inspection system which avoids fumigation, improving the quality conditions and increasing shelf life.
FAS Santiago estimates MY 2023/24 lemon area planted at 8,150 hectares (ha), a one percent increase from MY 2022/23, following the growth trend of the past three marketing years. Lemon area planted in Chile grew from 5,911 hectares in MY 2016/17 to 8,081 hectares in MY 2022/23, because farmers found lemon production and export a profitable alternative. In the Valparaiso and Coquimbo regions, citrus became a viable alternative to other crops such as avocado because of its high price and low water requirement.
According to FAS Santiago sources, Chilean lemon producers are currently focused on increasing productivity and yields by better managing water use and disease. In MY 2023/24, due to the increase in area planted and assuming high yields, Post projects lemon production to grow by 6.7 percent and reach 175,000 metric tons.
Chile produces lemons for the domestic market in the summer months, between December and March, when prices are high. During the winter months, between June and September, international prices in northern hemisphere countries are higher than domestic prices, thus most producers export lemons to those markets.
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Source: apps.fas.usda.gov