Argentinian lemon production to decrease

For CY 2017, production of all three types of citrus fruit is forecast to decrease below normal levels due to unfavorable weather conditions in the main citrus growing regions of Argentina. Lemon exports will remain at the same levels of MY 2015, and orange and tangerine exports are estimated to decrease slightly. Exports for all citrus types will remain below normal levels due to lack of competitiveness of local exporters.

Production
Production of citrus fruit for CY 2017 is projected to decrease to 1.37 MMT for lemons, 650,000 MT for oranges, and 280,000 MT for tangerines, due to a late frost in September 2016 (for lemons), and excess rain, strong winds, and hail (for sweet citrus, i.e. oranges and tangerines). Production for the three fruits will be down from normal levels due to not only unfavorable weather conditions but also lack of profitability for local producers.

Fresh orange and tangerine production in MY 2016/2017 is forecast to decrease by 20 percent to 650,000 MT (for oranges), and by 280,000 MT for tangerines, compared to MY 2015/2016. This decrease was due to excess rain, strong winds, and hail which caused severe damage especially in the north west of the Province of Entre Rios in 2016.

Production, Supply and Demand Data Statistics:

Exports
Citrus exports will remain relatively stable at 280,000 MT for lemons, 55,000 MT for oranges, and 45,000 MT for tangerines. Exports will remain below historic levels for the three fruits due to lack of competitiveness of Argentine exporters in international markets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is publishing a final rule to allow the importation of fresh lemon fruit from northwest Argentina into the continental United States. The rule has been sent to the Federal Register for publication on December 23, 2016, and will become effective 30 days after it is published.

Export Destinations

Consumption
CY 2017 lemon for domestic consumption is forecast to remain unchanged at 70,000 MT, and orange and tangerine consumption is expected to decrease to 350,000 MT and 150,000 MT, respectively, as a result of a decrease in production.

Domestic Retail Prices for Fresh Citrus Fruit

New Policies
In December 2015, the new government lifted export taxes on all fruits and other commodities. Export rebates remained the same for lemons, oranges, and tangerines, and they depend on the size of the container. Export and import tariffs for all citrus types are as follows:

You can find the full report at usda.gov.