Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food projected total Spanish citrus production of 5,842 million tons for the 2024–25 season that began Sept. 1. That’s 60,500 tons, or 1%, less than preliminary figures for the previous season and 8.6% less than the average of the last five seasons.
A continued drought and excessive heat in key periods of citrus development have contributed to the decline of the Spanish all-citrus projection.
Orange and grapefruit production are expected to increase this season. Decreases are projected for lemons and small citrus fruits.
ORANGES
Orange production for 2024–25 is forecast at 2.975 million tons, 8.8% (242,500 tons) more than last season and 8.2% (266,000 tons) below the five-year average. Oranges represents 51% of Spain’s total citrus volume, and 72% of the oranges are navels.
SMALL CITRUS
Small citrus fruit production is forecast at 1.831 million tons, 3.3% (62,400 tons) lower than last season and 9.6% below the five-year average. Small citrus is expected to account for 31.3% of all citrus production. Satsumas are expected to represent 6.1% of this group. Clementines are forecast at 49.9%, with other mandarins and hybrids at 44%.
LEMONS
Lemon production is expected to decline to 953,661 tons, 20.5% (241,650 tons) less than the prior season and 9.9% lower than the five-year average. The Fino variety is forecast to account for 73.1% of lemons and Verna for 26.3%.
Spain had record lemon production in the 2023–24 season; learn more here.
GRAPEFRUIT
Grapefruit production is forecast at 86,305 tons, 0.6% (2,560 tons) higher than last season and 8.3% above the five-year average.
General Director of Agricultural Productions and Markets Elena Busutil presented the season’s first production estimate during a meeting with representatives of citrus growers.
Spain is the leading producer of citrus fruit in the European Union and sixth in the world.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
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