Argentina's citrus export season is underway, and all parties involved hope that export volumes will increase. "We expect a good season for exports. Maybe this will be the first year in the last decade and a half when Argentina's citrus exports will stop dropping," says Nahuel Lavino, export sales manager at Fama, an Argentinian citrus exporter and importer.
Last year, Argentina had what growers and exporters termed as 'one of the worst years'. Internally, the country was also struggling with a bad economy, rapid inflation and a new government that was elected. The new President, Javier Milei, is on a drive to cut government spending and costs, declaring there is no money in the country. Today, July 9, Argentina is also celebrating their Independence Day.
Lavino says as a citrus industry they feel the pressure in the local market with people not able to buy the fruit due to a lack of money. He says the juice prices are currently making up for the lack of consumer buying power. "Argentina has a lot of fruit and a lot of pressure to export. The internal market is not good, so nobody can buy citrus, and the industry for fruit juice is paying okay rates, but they are now flooded with fruit. Therefore, it is not going to take long until they stop receiving fruit or prices start plummeting," he warns.
Argentina also had a lot of rain lately; this impacts the citrus fruit. "There is a lot of fruit, but the quality is not the greatest. We had a long autumn with high temperatures and it was very rainy, which is great for fungus, bacteria, etc. Therefore, packhouse work is essential to have good arrivals. Furthermore, these days have been cold, nothing to worry about in our area, but we are always checking and hoping it won't affect the fruit," concludes Lavino.
For more information:
Nahuel Lavino
Fama
Tel: +34 636 497 142
Email: [email protected]
www.citrusfama.com.ar