North America Edition
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ATO/Sao Paulo forecasts the total Brazilian orange crop for MY 2018/19 (July/June) at 494 Million 40.8-kg boxes (MBx) or 20.16 million tons. This would be an increase of 26 percent relative to the previous season. The commercial area of the state of São Paulo and the western part of Minas Gerais should produce 389 MBx (15.87 tons), a notable increase relative to the revised figure for MY 017/18 (286 MBx of oranges or 11.67 tons). This projection is based on the Defense Fund for Citriculture’s (Fundecitrus) first citrus crop forecast, that takes into account the following varieties: Hamlim, Westin, Rubi, Valecia Americana, Valencia Argentina, Seleta, Pineapple, Pera Rio, Valencia, “Folha Murcha” Valencia, and Natal.
According to Fundecitrus, favorable weather conditions sustained excellent blooming, fruit setting and fruit development, therefore resulting in a higher number of fruits per trees (783 fruits) vis-à-vis the last crop (564 fruits).
Production for MY 2018/19 from other states is projected unchanged from the previous crop at 105 MBx, according to information provided by the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute (IBGE). In February 2019, the São Paulo State Institute of Agricultural Economics (IEA) released its first survey for the 2019/20 orange crop (equivalent to MY 2018/19), forecasting 331MBx, an increase of 12 MBx compared to the previous season (319 MBx).
