According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, total US orange juice production in the current 2021–22 season is forecast at 286 million single-strength equivalent gallons. If realized, this volume will be the lowest in more than 50 years.
To compensate for lower production, US OJ imports are expected to increase over last year, reaching more than 400 million gallons. Mexico and Brazil are the main suppliers of OJ imports into the US, accounting for a combined 93%.
Fifty-nine percent of US oranges will go to OJ in the 2021–22 season. Most oranges for the processing market are grown in Florida. The average processed orange price reported in January was $6.73 per box, 3 cents higher than the same time last year.
Read the full article on citrusindustry.net.