The Chilean Citrus Committee recently estimated that global citrus exports from Chile will total 383,000 tons this season, a 4% decline from 2023. Export declines are projected for clementines, mandarins and oranges. Lemons are the only citrus fruit forecast to have increased export volume this season.
The committee forecast clementine export volume of 40,000 tons, which is 35% less than the 2023 season.
Monserrat Valenzuela, manager of the Chilean Citrus Committee, said, “This is a result of water restrictions in the main clementine-producing areas of the Coquimbo region, Region IV.”
- Of the 4,000 hectares of clementines planted in Chile, 70% of them are concentrated in Region IV.
- Mandarin export volume is expected to reach 160,000 tons, a decrease of 9% from last year.
- Orange export volume will be similar to 2023, with a 2% decrease to 93,000 tons.
- Lemon exports are expected to grow by 33% to 90,000 tons.
“We are building an industry better adapted to climate change, with a strategy aimed at facing new production challenges, and with a focus on more sustainable production,” Chilean Citrus Committee President Juan Ortúzar said.
There are 27,813 hectares of citrus orchards in Chile, distributed between the Atacama and O’Higgins regions. The Metropolitan Region has the largest planted area, with 8,361 hectares. Lemons lead the total planted area with 9,199 hectares nationwide, followed by mandarins with 7,800 hectares and oranges with 6,600 hectares.
Chile’s citrus promotions in the United States will commence in June and continue through October.
A December 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service provided complete projections for Chile’s citrus industry, including production, exports and acreage. That report indicated that most Chilean mandarins will be exported, but that much of the country’s orange and lemon production will be consumed domestically.
Source: Chilean Fruit Exporters Association
Share this Post
Sponsored Content