Spanish citrus production forecast to grow 20%
Spain is the leading citrus producer in the EU-28, and is forecast to produce 7.11 million MT of total citrus production, meaning a growth of 20 percent compared to the previous year. All citrus fruits are expected to experience important growths due to favorable weather conditions. Spanish citrus consumption is expected to remain stable. Spain has reoriented citrus exports to new markets in Asia to compensate for the loss of the Russian market.
Orange Production
Spain is the primary orange producer in the EU-28. According to the latest data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Food (MAPAMA), Spain’s MY 2016/17 orange production is forecast at 3.6 MMT, an increase of 17.6 percent compared to the previous campaign due to optimal spring weather conditions which resulted in improved flowering and fruit setting. Fruit quality is expected to be good.
Recent rainfalls could improve the fruit caliber. The main Spanish orange producing areas are the Regions of Valencia, Andalusia, and Murcia with an expected increase in orange production for MY 2016/17 of 19 percent, 17.3 percent and 18 percent respectively.
TRADE
Spain is the major European orange producer and exporter of oranges within the EU-28, with 1,873,098 MT in MY 2014/15, which means a rise of 14 percent compared to the previous year and valued 1 percent less. The main market is other EU-28 countries, with 92 percent of their total exports of oranges. Exports of Spanish oranges to China have experienced important increases in the last 3 years, reaching until October/August 2015/16 10,010 MT or 246 percent more compared to the same period of previous year.
Meanwhile, Spanish exports of oranges to Algeria decreased by almost 65 percent in October/August 2015/16 compared to last period. Due to the Russian ban, Spanish orange exports MY 2014/15 were negligible meaning a loss of USD 11 million. To compensate for the loss of the Russian market, Spain has reoriented their orange exports to new markets such as Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and China.
TANGERINE PRODUCTION
According to the latest data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Food (MAPAMA), Spain’s MY 2016/17 tangerine production is forecast to increase by 24 percent at 2.4 MMT compared to the previous campaign, due to weather conditions and the growth expected in the Region of Valencia. Late rainfalls could improve the calibers of the fruit.
Spain’s main tangerine producing areas are the Regions of Valencia, Andalusia, and Catalonia with an estimated increase in tangerine production of 29 percent in the Region of Valencia and an expected decline of 9 percent in Andalusia. New early and late varieties continue being developed to extend the fruit availability.
TRADE
Spain, the leading EU tangerine producer and exporter, exported 11 percent less with 1,488,272 MT of tangerines in MY 2015/16 (October/August), of which 91 percent was sent to other EU Member States. Spanish exports of tangerines to the United States continue in a downward trend since 2010 due to strict and expensive measures for the Spanish mandarins to be exported to the U.S., high competition with mandarins from Morocco and logistic issues. Instead, Spanish exports of mandarins to Brazil and Asia follow an upward trend as alternative markets with important increase in MY 2015/16 to China. In MY 2014/15 Spain exported 1,668,495 MT meaning a rise of 5 percent but valued 9 percent less.
LEMON PRODUCTION
According to the latest data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Food (MAPAMA), Spain’s MY 2016/17 lemon production is forecast at 954,200, an increase of 17.6 percent compared to the previous year recovering the normal production parameters and being the largest lemon EU-28 producer. The rise is due to favorable weather conditions and the entry of new plantations in the last years. Spain will continue to consolidate its leading commercial position in Europe with quality and sanitary guarantee.
Spain is the second largest lemon producer in the world, after Argentina, maintaining the world leader position of lemon exports for fresh consumption with increasing prices, resulting in an efficient lemon production. Fruit quality is forecast to be satisfactory.
Trade
Spain, the leading EU lemon producer and exporter, exported 23 percent less lemons than previous campaign in MY 2015/16 (October/August) due to a decline in Spanish production and reaching 521,087 MT. However, the value was 11 percent more with USD 804 million confirming the leading commercial position of Spanish lemons, of which 94 percent was sent to other EU Member States.
In MY 2014/15 Spain exported 674,543 MT of lemons meaning a rise of 8 percent compared to previous year. Spain’s lemons exports experienced important increases to Canada (+ 35%) and The United States (+194 %) in MY 2014/15, reaching 10,795 MT and 4,848 MT respectively.
New strategic 9 markets in Asia are experienced also important increases. In MY 2014/15 Spain imported 13 percent more lemons than previous campaign with 45,619 MT, mainly coming from Argentina and with 53 percent growth of lemons coming from other Member States.
Grapefruit Production
Spain’s MY 2016/17 grapefruit production is forecast to increase by 17 percent according to MAPAMA. Leading grapefruit producing areas include the Regions of Murcia, Andalusia, and Valencia, representing 45, 35, and 20 percent of total production, respectively. Ruby Red is the main grapefruit variety planted in Spain.
TRADE
In MY 2014/15 Spain, the leading EU grapefruit producer and exporter, exported 31 percent more compared to previous year reaching 65,501 MT with almost 97 percent of Spanish grapefruit exports going to EU-28. In MY 2014/15 Spain imported 5,769 MT meaning 13 percent decrease compared to previous year and 95 percent going to other EU Member States.
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