Brazil, known as the world's largest orange producer and a leader in concentrated orange juice exports, has seen a shift in its import dynamics. Traditionally reliant on Spain for orange imports, Brazil has increasingly turned to Egypt, which became the top exporter to the Brazilian market in 2024. Egyptian exports to Brazil reached USD 16.1 million, marking a 113% increase from 2023.
Orange imports in Brazil have surged, nearly doubling from 26,900 tons in 2023 to 51,200 tons in 2024, a 90.3% rise. This trend is largely due to a decline in domestic production, driven by challenges such as the spread of greening disease and climatic factors like extreme heat. The projected orange production for the 2024/2025 harvest is 228 million boxes, down from 307 million boxes in the previous season.
Guilherme Rodriguez, agronomist at Fundecitrus, highlights that extreme heat has become a more pressing issue than greening. "Our leading problem now is less greening and more extreme heat," he notes. Greening, or huanglongbing (HLB), has affected São Paulo's citrus plantations since 2004, causing branch drying and fruit drop. Fundecitrus has launched a campaign emphasizing collective preventive action against greening, as 44% of São Paulo citrus farms are currently affected.
While Brazil faces production challenges, importers find opportunities. The free trade agreement between Egypt and Mercosur, effective since 2017, has facilitated Egyptian orange imports. São Paulo-based trading company 52W began importing Egyptian oranges in December 2024, capitalizing on the competitive pricing and quality of Egyptian produce. Gustavo Fávero of 52W explains, "Brazil is an excellent citrus producer, but as with any fruit, it's normal for imports to complement supply during the off-season."
Despite these challenges, Brazil remains a key player in the global orange market, accounting for 75% of global orange juice sales and generating substantial employment and economic contributions. São Paulo alone produced 45,112 jobs in the 2023/2024 harvest, a 10% increase from the previous year, according to CitrusBR. The state's orange industry accounted for 8.2% of its total exports, valued at USD 1.15 billion.
Source: ANBA