A report published by the Argentine Citrus Federation outlines the production capacities, economic landscape and commercial distribution of Argentina’s citrus sector. The report is titled “The Argentine citrus industry: 2025 data and estimates.” It underscores the critical role citriculture plays in both regional economies and the national gross domestic product, positioning Argentina as a major global player, particularly in the production and industrialization of lemons.
PRODUCTION
In 2025, Argentina’s total fresh citrus production reached 3,756,721 metric tons, accounting for 68% of the country’s total fresh fruit production. Lemons dominated production at 2.21 million tons, followed by oranges (1 million tons), mandarins (410,324 tons) and grapefruit (129,694 tons).
GROWING REGIONS
Geographically, cultivation is divided into two primary regions:
- Northwest Argentina: Accounts for 66% of total citrus volume, primarily lemon cultivation, with Tucumán leading as the largest producing province
- Northeast Argentina: Accounts for 34% of production, serving as the core hub for sweet citrus varieties like oranges and mandarins
MARKET DISTRIBUTION
The distribution of fresh citrus fruit varies significantly by species. Overall, 56.67% of the total output is routed to industrial processing, 33.31% goes to the domestic market and 10.02% is exported as fresh fruit.
The industrial channel is overwhelmingly fueled by lemons, with more than 1.54 million tons processed into derivatives. Financially, the sector generated an estimated $1.47 billion in total value in 2025, split between fresh fruit domestic consumption ($758 million) and exports ($713 million).
Lemons remain the core of international sales, accounting for 80% of total citrus export value ($510 million). Argentina ranks as a premier global supplier of processed lemon products, claiming 45% of the global market and 66% of the Southern Hemisphere market. The top economic blocs importing Argentine citrus are the European Union (33%), the Eurasian Union (19%) and North America (18%).
EMPLOYMENT ENGINE
Argentina’s citrus industry acts as a massive regional employment engine, supporting a total direct labor force of 90,100 workers. Primary production accounts for the vast majority of jobs, utilizing 57,400 temporary workers for harvest and pre-harvest activities alongside 6,000 permanent staff. Packinghouses provide another 22,100 positions. Industrial processing plants sustain 4,600 permanent jobs.
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