Official data confirms that Spanish orange prices this year, in which Spanish citrus supply will remain low and inflation continues present, remain at high levels.
In a year in which prices are expected to be higher than last year due to the decrease in production, the Citrus Market started by pricing the first quality Navelina orange between 0.38 and 0.42 euro per kilo, and the orange for the industry between 0.30 and 0.32 euro per kilo.
In the first week of October, prices were also better than in the last ten campaigns, as highlighted by the Ministry of Agriculture in its latest price bulletin. Navel orange prices were 60.5% above the average for that same week and the price of the processed product was 38.1% higher.
Internationally, according to a report published on 8 November by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission (EC), the value of Spanish oranges leaving warehouses (cooperatives and private businesses) stood at 0.95 euro/kg. According to the analysis carried out by the European Commission, the price of oranges in Spain in October was 48% higher than the average of the last 5 years for that same month. This increase, however, is not exclusive to Spain.
The Italian orange has also registered a 48% increase, standing at 1.43 euro/kilo, while the price of the Greek fruit has increased by 73% to 1.22 euro/kilo.
Fewer EU imports
The 2023/24 campaign began with the EU importing lower volumes of oranges than in previous years. Between September and October, the EU imported 230,475 tons of oranges, i.e. 31.5% less than in the same months of the 2022/23 campaign (-105,800 tons) and 28.7% (-92,800 tons) less than the average, according to the latest Enhanced Monitoring on EU Citrus Imports.
The main supplier at the beginning of the campaign is South Africa (with a 79.6% share), but its quantities have decreased by 25% (-61,500 t) compared to the average. The volumes imported from the remaining main supplying countries have also decreased, with Morocco standing out with a -100% (-8,100 tons).
The decreases in the quantities imported in these two months of the beginning of the campaign have certainly been significant. The volume imported in October fell by almost 50% over the same month of last year when the highest figure in recent years was reached.
Source: levante-emv.com / ec.europa.eu / mapa.gob.es