The Citrus Management Committee (CGC), the association that brings together Spain's largest private citrus exporters, has commented on reports about alleged problems in the supply to the Chinese market.
The CGC has stressed that, since 2014, when this country re-opened to Spanish oranges and mandarins, the volumes shipped have actually tripled each year.
At present, and according to figures recorded on 19 February 2017, Spanish exporters have shipped a total of 6,431 tonnes, compared to just 2,040 tonnes at the same point last year. Given this, and the current good performance, as well as the products' excellent reception and the good condition of the fruit still to be harvested, the association is confident that it will beat the record of the previous campaign (2015/2016), when 12,868 tonnes were exported.
Far from having a negative impact, the strong rainfall that struck one of Spain's main producing areas in November and December (the Region of Valencia) served to improve the calibres of the mid-season oranges that are now being harvested, which had been somewhat affected by the effects of the previous drought. The severe damage caused then, which has considerably reduced the supply of Spanish citrus fruits, affected mostly clementines, which were hit by various issues caused by the excess moisture.
But, as the CGC recalls, "this is not the favourite Spanish crop among Chinese consumers, who are demonstrating a growing loyalty to our oranges." During the current season, the Navelina and Navel varieties exported to the Asian giant are the overwhelming majority (5,441 out of the 6,431 tonnes shipped in the 2016/2017 campaign).
Also, given the careful attention being paid to this emerging destination, the CGC highlighted that the shipments come from producing areas that are far from the places that recorded the most damage. "The Spanish orange production area is quite large, it covers a good part of the Mediterranean coast, from the north of the province of Valencia down to Alicante, Murcia and the large farms of Andalusia, and each area has different sizes for the same variety, pointed out the same sources.
Furthermore, the CGC denies that the rains or the cold have taken a toll on the sugar-acidity levels or affected the sweetness of the oranges, which are in excellent condition this season. "The shipments, given the incipient demand, kicked off a month and a half earlier, and at that time it was possible to come across some specific cases of unripe fruit, but the importers who accepted those first operations were fully aware of the time of the year it was, and in spite of everything, the analyses prove that the fruit met the required quality parameters," explain sources from the committee.
"The information that warned about the possibility of logistical problems because of the stevedores strike in Spanish ports is not accurate either. Because the mobilizations planned for 20 and 25 February were finally cancelled and because, ahead of new partial strikes announced for 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22 and 24 March, there is still room for success in the negotiation process, the minimum services for perishables theoretically cover 100% of the goods. And ultimately, alternatives have been sought and planned. In the worst case scenario, there may be some delays, but there will be no supply disruption," point out sources from the CGC.
For more information: