Last year, the province of Almeria cultivated 8,596 hectares of citrus, a similar number as in 2013. More than half of this extension is devoted to orange crops (4,700 hectares); tangerine crops, 2,447, and lemon trees, 1,340 hectares.
According to data from the Delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development in Almeria, last year's citrus harvest amounted to 236.7 million kilos, 13% more than the 207.1 million kilos achieved in 2013.
The territorial delegate of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, José Manuel Ortiz, stressed that the value of the citrus production amounted to $44.15 million Euro, 50% more than in 2013. Tangerine production exceeded $17.5 million Euro (86% more than in the reference year), the orange production was around $17 million Euro (20% more), and lemon production amounted to more than $9.3 million Euro (60% more).
Markets abroad
Most of the citrus production of Almeria is sold in the domestic market, although a significant percentage is exported. According to data until November 2014, the citrus industry of the province sold 38.7 million kilos abroad, almost 1% more than in the first eleven months of 2013. According to Extenda, turnover for these sales amounted to $26.4 million Euro; i.e. 2.7% less than in the previous year.
Almeria ranks as the eighth Spanish province with the highest value of citrus exports, with a national market share of 1.1%. Italy, with 25.6% of purchases, and Germany, with 25.2% of purchases, acquire more than half of the citrus fruit exported from Almeria, which are also sold in France, Holland, Poland, Belgium and other markets such as Russia, Canada and Saudi Arabia.
Citrus exports from Almeria to Russia decreased by 76% from 634 million Euro (between January and November 2013), only 150 million Euro in 2014 because of that Russia's ban on imports of food products from the European Union.
Oranges, tangerines and limes
Orange export values amounted to $10.6 million Euro, 16.5% less than in the first eleven months of 2013. The main buyers, by country, were Italy, with 36.5%, followed by Germany with 24%, and France with 2.2%. Almeria also exported oranges to Belgium, Holland Russia, Latvia and Canada.
Exports of tangerines, however, increased its revenues in 2014: until November, turnover amounted to $7 million Euro, up 9.4%. Italy is also the main destination, with 23%, followed by Germany (22.1%) and France (21.2%). Holland, Poland, Canada, Ukraine and Russia are other destinations for this fruit.
Lime sales had a turnover of $7.8 million Euro, 9.1% more than in 2013. In this case, the main client is Germany (23.8% of the total), followed by France (18.8%) and Italy (9.9%).
Source: FHalmeria