Worldwide citrus market update
Below you'll find how the citrus markets develops in different markets worldwide.
United States navels and limes
Prices in United States are very good, according traders. January 23 prices for premium quality navel oranges size 48 were between $19.80 and $21.90. Prices for a carton of 72s were between $16.80 and $19.90, a carton of 88s was priced between $12.80 and $14.90, and prices for a carton of 113s were between $10.40 and $12.50.
Last year the third week of January saw prices nearly identical to the current price of limes. Last year’s lime prices broke all records; however the increase in prices was not present until the first week of February. The expectation is to see higher prices in February and March of this year, but not like last year, which was close to $100.00.
Limes are preferred by farmers and growers as it is a crop which can be sold 52 weeks of the year. Volume has increased as more states in Mexico are shipping limes in higher numbers. More acreage has also been reported in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Colombia.
Mexican Limes
Although prices are high in United States, growers don’t see this back. From an average of 3.50 pesos (0,239 USD) per kilogram in the previous weeks, caused by overproduction, the price increased to a range of 4 to 4.50 pesos (0,27 – 0,30 USD), but this recovery is still not enough for the growers to re-invest in the business.
Europe import
Turkish lemon exporters are pushing volumes and ask high prices, but they aren’t receiving it. This is probably because Russia has not been the golden star that they thought it would be. Oranges from Turkey are €0.60 and lemons €0.80 to 0.85.
The lime market is not so rosy either. The market is loaded with limes from Brazil. Two months ago, the market was low in volume. So importers bought bigger volumes from Brazil at high prices. At the moment the lime situation in Europe turned to its normal state for January.
The grapefruit market is better, prices are up €1.33 from last year. However we have to keep in mind that last year was a disaster. The supply just now is from Turkey, Israel and some from Cyprus.
The easy-peelers are coming from Morocco, Israel and Spain.
Spanish citrus
Spanish oranges don't have good prices at the moment and sales are quite slow. For Navelina about 11 cents per kilo is paid; Navel is around 13 cents; Navel Lane Late around 20 cents; Navelate around 23 cents; Navel Powel, Navel Barnfield and Navel Chislett all around 26 cents approx. ; Salustiana 13 cents and Valencia Late around 24 cents per kilo.
Spanish clementines prices are better than oranges and is forecast to raise in the coming weeks. The late hybrid clementines varieties as Nadorcott Afourer or Fortune are always better paid than the earlier varieties. Furthermore, the clementines volumes are going to decrease in the coming weeks as well.
This week the prices for Clemenvilla are around 42 cents per kilo; Fortune around 47 cents per kg; Nadorcott Afourer around 84 cents per kg and Ortanique around 24 cents.
The demand of Spanish lemons is now slow, as always at this period of the year (December- end January). Prices for the variety Fino are between 15 cents and 24 cents per kg right now. Spanish lemons are growing the exports to countries outside of the EU. Lemons have been send to Europe for 0.75 €/kg. These lemons are sizes 2/3/4 layered.
Asia
Chinese Lokan mandarin oranges are mainly going to Southeast Asian market. More volumes will be exported due to Chinese New Year to mainly Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines. Singapore buys the big sizes at $17-18 a kilo. Malaysia and Indonesia are going for the medium sizes at $4-8 a kilo. The small sizes are sold at $6 a kilo.
In Pakistan prices are 0.52 - 0.55 per kg FOB for the famous kinnow mandarins.