Dry conditions affect Argentine citrus
Argentine lemon production is expected to reach 1.3 million MT for the 2012-2013 season, and although this is on par with last season's production, it was initially anticipated that this year's crop would be larger. A report from the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service noted that dry conditions earlier in the year had something to do with the revised crop estimate. It also noted that size and fruit quality were affected.
Orange production is expected to come down this season from last season's mark of 565,000 MT. Dry conditions are also believed to be a factor in this year's expected crop of 400,000 MT. Similarly, tangerine production is expected to decrease from last season's figure of 290,000 MT to 230,000 MT for this season. Grapefruit production is also expected to decrease to 80,000 MT from last year's crop of 100,000 MT, though land being shifted to other crops is a factor in this case.
Though lemon exports are expected to remain relatively steady at an anticipated 265,000 MT for the season, orange exports are expected to drop from last season's mark of 85,000 MT to 20,000 MT. Less production and increasing competition from South African exporters have been cited as reasons for the decline.