Citrus production in Turkey has steadily increased over the last 15 years, and gains were good in 2013 on the back of some favourable weather. But unfavourable weather in 2014 made for drops in production for almost all of Turkey's citrus varieties.Grapefruit production is estimated at 205,000 metric tons for 2014, according to a report from the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service. If it pans out, that would be 13 percent lighter than the previous year's crop, when favourable weather conditions made for good yields.
Similarly, lemon production for 2014 is expected to decrease from 2013's numbers. While good growing conditions led to a 760,000 MT lemon crop last year, at 680,000 MT, 2014's crop is expected to be 11 percent lighter. The same story holds for oranges, with this year's production expected to reach 1.55 MMT. If that holds true, it would be nine percent smaller than 2013's orange crop of 1.70 MMT.
The sole citrus commodity that bucked the trend this year was tangerines. Because tangerines in Turkey are grown in areas that were spared most of this year's bad weather, production actually increased in 2014 from the previous year's production. At 960,000 MT, the 2014 Turkish tangerine crop is expected to be 10 percent larger than 2013's crop.