The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food forecasts Spain will produce 5.842 million tons of citrus in the 2024/2025 season, which began on September 1. Elena Busutil, the general director of Agricultural Productions and Markets, presented this first forecast yesterday at a meeting of the citrus sector table attended by representatives of citrus producers.
This estimate is 60,500 tons lower (-1%) than the provisional figures for the 2023/2024 season and 8.6% lower than the average of the last five seasons.
The effects of the continued drought, the excessive heat during key periods in the development of citrus fruits, and -in some cases- alternate bearing have been decisive factors in the production volume.
However, production performance differs depending on the type of citrus fruit. Orange production is expected to increase over the past season, lemon and small citrus fruit production is expected to decrease, and grapefruit production will remain stable.
Specifically, orange production is forecast at 2.975 million tons, i.e. 8.8% or 242,500 tons more than last season, but 8.2% (-266,000 tons) below the average. As usual, this citrus would have the highest production, accounting for 51% of the total citrus production volume. 72% of the oranges produced in Spain are varieties of the Navel group.
Small citrus production would amount to 1.831 million tons, 3.3% (62,400 tons) less than in the past season and 9.6% below average. This type of citrus would account for 31.3% of the total. Satsuma would account for 6.1% of this group; clementines for 49.9%, and the rest of mandarins and hybrids for 44%.
After last season's record production, lemon production would decline to 953,661 tons, i.e. 20.5% (241,650 tons) less than last season and 9.9% below the average. The Fino variety would account for 73.1% and Verna lemons for 26.3% of the production.
According to the forecast, the country will produce 86,305 tons of grapefruit, 0.6% (+2,560 tons) more than in the previous season and 8.3% more than the average. This means it will be another record campaign.
Spain is the EU's leading producer of citrus fruits and the world's sixth-largest citrus producer. The average value of its citrus exports stands at 3,100 million euros per season, a figure that the country expects to surpass in the 2024/2025 season.
Spain is the world's biggest exporter of fresh citrus, accounting for 25% of global exports. Almost 60% of its citrus production is destined for the international market, a percentage that is higher in the case of small citrus fruits and that approaches 80% in grapefruit.
For more information: www.mapa.gob.es