The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) recently provided a 2024–25 forecast for European Union (EU) citrus crops.
TANGERINE/MANDARIN
EU tangerine and mandarin production in 2024–25 is estimated at 2.8 million metric tons (MMT), down from the 2.9 MMT bumper crop in the previous season. Production is projected to be down in Spain, the EU’s largest mandarin and tangerine producer.
After years of constant contraction, EU’s tangerine and mandarin area has stabilized at around 146,000 hectares. While Spain’s mandarin and tangerine area continues to contract slightly, Greece reports stability. A tepid increase in acreage is projected in Italy.
Imports are projected at 450,000 metric tons (MT), down from 452,000 MT the prior year. Exports are projected at 300,000 MT, down from 313,000 MT.
LEMON
In 2024–25, EU lemon production is forecast to revert to average levels after the bumper crop in 2023–24 and amount to just over 1.5 MMT. This is down from 1.77 MMT the prior year. Spain and Italy are the first and second largest EU lemon producers, accounting for nearly 65% and 30% of the EU’s total lemon production, respectively.
The production decline anticipated is largely driven by the yield reduction in Spain.
EU lemon planted area is projected at 87,092 hectares in 2024–25, up from 86,855 hectares the prior year.
Lemon imports are projected to climb in 2024–25 to 550,000 MT, from 501,000 MT the prior year. Exports are forecast to be 140,000 MT, down from 141,000 the prior year.
GRAPEFRUIT
EU grapefruit production in 2024–25 is forecast at 111,000 MT, up from 110,000 MT the prior year. The production increase can be entirely attributed to Spain, which has more than three-fourths of the EU’s grapefruit production.
Area planted in grapefruit is projected to be 4,350 hectares, up from 4,346 the prior year.
EU grapefruit imports for 2024–25 are forecast at 214,000 MT, down from 215,000 MT the prior year. Exports are projected at 23,000 MT, up from 19,000 MT the prior year.
A summary of the European Union orange and orange juice forecast can be found here. See the complete European Union citrus report from USDA/FAS here.
Source: USDA/FAS
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