Australian tangerine and mandarin production in 2022–23 is forecast at 190,000 metric tons (MT), a 9% increase over the 2021–22 estimate of 175,000 MT. This growth is predominantly related to a young tree age profile, with an increasing area of plantings entering production. The forecast was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS).
From 2014 to 2021, there has been a 43% increase in mandarin plantings from 5,451 hectares to 7,807 hectares. This growth has broadly occurred across all producing regions in Australia.
Queensland has by far the largest area of mandarin production in Australia at 4,177 hectares, accounting for 54% percent of national production. The next largest regions are the Riverland in South Australia with 1,404 hectares (18%) and Murray Valley in Victoria with 1,363 hectares (17%).
The Afourer (including Amorette and Tango) variety has by far had the largest growth in production area over the 2014 to 2021 period, from 998 hectares to 2,525 hectares. It is now clearly the dominant variety.
The area of Murcott (including Honey Bee and Royal Honey) has increased by 30% percent over the same period, while the older variety Imperial (including Goldup and Avana) has
declined by 12%.
In the “other” category, including tangelos, there are 29 varieties, the total planted area of which has grown by 54%.
Mandarin exports in 2022–23 are forecast at 90,000 MT, up from an estimated 75,000 MT in 2021–22. If realized, this would be a record level of exports and 3,000 MT higher than the previous record set in 2018–19.
Based on the increase in plantings over recent years, it is anticipated that, as trees mature, production will continue to increase, and exports will hit new records.
Australian export destinations of mandarins are well diversified with around 35 countries receiving the fruit. The top five nations receiving exports accounted for half to two-thirds of all exports over the last three years.
China remains the major export destination, followed by Thailand. The Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam each
accounted for 7% to 9% percent of overall exports in 2021–22.
See the full USDA/FAS citrus report for Australia here.
Source: USDA FAS
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