Ailimpo's lemon production estimate for the 2021/2022 season has been updated since the previous September report. The final total production is estimated at 990,000 tons: 800,000 tons of Fino lemons and 190,000 tons of Verna lemons.
It is estimated that between 20% and 25% of the production is intended for processing, an activity in which Spain ranks 2nd globally, producing a wide range of juices, essential oils and dehydrated peel.
The Fino lemon campaign continues during the first four months of 2022, although with a progressive reduction in the fruit's supply. In the first week of February, the average price at origin has ranged between 0.20 and 0.26 € per kilo in the province of Murcia, the main producing area in Spain, and between 0.15 and 0.22 € per kilo in the Region of Valencia.
According to Ailimpo, "prices at origin hit rock bottom, reactivating the interest in the purchase of commercial quality Fino lemons (basically, the traditional Fino), bringing an upturn in prices that will make it possible to face the second part of the Fino campaign with better prospects after a complicated first part of the season."
These operations, according to Ailimpo, coexist with other purchases outside the reference range, either below (with orchards ready for cleaning and/or macro-rows with limited commercial use), or above (forward operations for fruit with a later harvest date).
On the demand or market side, "statistics show that there's an active market, especially in the retail channel, and the behavior of the wholesale market remains unknown due to the restrictions of the hotel and catering industry, still in force in many markets."
In parallel, and despite EU controls that cause some logistical problems for Turkish exporters, the Turkish lemon campaign continues with an unequal, but competitive presence that varies per country. "Now is the time for this upturn in prices at origin for Spanish fruit to be quickly transferred to the market," said the interprofessional.
The marketing of Verna lemons, a Spanish native variety, is expected to start in April with the prospect of harvesting 190,000 tons; a sharp reduction compared to the volumes of 2021.
For more information:
AILIMPO
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Tel. +34 968 216 619
Fax: +34 968 220 947
www.ailimpo.com