This is according to an article by Maria Noel Ackermann and Andres Diaz, "Fruit growing: situation and perspectives of citrus fruit and deciduous fruit trees", which was published in the 2017 Yearbook of the Agricultural Programming and Policy Office (Opypa),
The revenue achieved up to October 2017 from the export of selected fresh fruits - citrus, blueberries, apples, and pears - reached US $92 million, i.e. 3% compared to the previous year.
Even though the country exported a lower volume of citrus than in the previous harvest, exports of oranges, limes, and tangerines amounted to around US $80 million; a number that is similar to the previous year.
"The stability in value, between January and October was due to a reduction in exports of orange (-10%) and limes (-18%), and an 11% increase in tangerines when compared to the same period of 2016," states the article.
Opypa technicians highlighted the change taking place in the citrus export basket. 10 years ago the oranges' importance, both in value and volume, was substantially greater, and now the tangerines and limes have gained importance.
Blueberries and apples
Blueberry exports continued to decrease. In 2015 and 2016, they country exported less than 2,000 tons, much less than the maximum level achieved in 2011.
Between January and October 2017, the country exported less than 900 tons of blueberries, i.e. 19% less than in the same period of the previous year. However, the export value was relatively similar to that achieved in the same period of 2016 because of an increase in prices.
Meanwhile, apple and pear exports increased in 2017, as production was better, according to the article.
"The total marketed exceeded 8,000 tons (the highest levels since 2011), which implied revenues of US $ 6 million. Apple and pear sales tripled when compared to 2016, a year in which there weren't many exports because of a reduced offer."
Regarding export prices, the technicians from Opypa stated that, with the exception of lime prices, there had been a generalized recovery in the prices of the different products.
For example, "the average export price for tangerines between January and October (of 2017) was above US $ 1,000 per ton, i.e. 8% more than in the previous year," a rebound similar to that of the price of oranges.
The US gains ground against Europe
According to the aforementioned article, "the citrus destination markets continued to change. The European Union (EU) lost market share, while the US increased its importance. Both of these markets accounted for 32% of the value exported between January and October 2017."
Brazil positioned itself as the third most important destination, absorbing 10% of the citrus fruit sales. It was followed by Russia, with 9%; Canada with 5%; and Saudi Arabia with the same percentage. China, which was opened its doors to this products at the end of 2016, bought 1% of the total.
Source: elobservadorcom.uy