"We had a lot of rain in April, which delayed the start of the harvest, which usually commences at the end of March," Mercedes said.
As a result of this late start the Argentinian lemons arrived in the European marketplace at a more favourable time than usual.
"We started in May, meaning that Spain was able to sell all of its fruit prior to our arrival. Usually we start competing with Spain for market share, but this year we were alone in the European market place.
"We exported around the same amount of fruit as last year to Europe, but the difference was that this year's prices were favourable and much more stable. They started at between 18 Euro and 18 Euro 50 per box and stayed at that level until late in the season."
This was a relief to the industry that feared a loss making season in 2012, Mercedes says.
"The price stability was surprising to us. We expected to make a loss, but the climate stabilised at the right moment and we were able to finish on target."
Whilst European markets behaved as normal this year, Argentina was able to increase its exports to the Far and Middle East. There are continued hopes in the industry for widened market access in the future to the US and China. Argentina certainly has the volume, growing in the region of 1 and half million tonnes , of which currently only 250,000 tons are exported. The remainder is sent for processing, but with export markets offering a more lucrative opportunity the country's industry is keen to seen wider market access.
For more information:
Merc
edes YoungLatin Lemon SRL
Tel: +54 381 482 11 13/55
Mob: +54 9 381 575 1808
myoung@latinlemon.com.ar
www.latinlemon.com.ar
or
Martina Delacroix
All Le
monTel: + 54 9 11 66447260
md.@martinadelacroix.com or info@all-lemon.com
www.all-lemon.com