A large citrus harvest is expected in the Mediterranean Sea area this season. The orange production has increased by 3%/2012 to 11,4 million tonnes. This is +10%/three year average. The harvest is the largest in Spain, just like last year, with 3.4 million tonnes. Italy (2.3 million tonnes) and Morocco are coming back after a big loss last year.
The lemon production, however, is moderate. Although Spain expects a lemon harvest of 910,000 tonnes (+4%2012 and +10%/three year average) and the harvest in Italy is increasing by 10%/2012 to 655,000 tonnes (+10%/three year average) there is a decrease in Turkey (748,000 tonnes) from -17%/2012 and -19%/three year average.
The production of grapefruit (579,000 tonnes) is expect to decrease by 11%/2012 and by 12%/three year average. This is due to the decrease in Spain by -8%/2012 to 49,000 tonnes (-7%/three year average) and Turkey by -3%/2012 and -5%/three year average to 292,000 tonnes. It is expected that the Israeli harvest will be stable at 210,000 tonnes (0%/2012 and -2%/three year average).