The citrus belt in Brazil, encompassing São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro, is projected to harvest 228.52 million 40.8-kg boxes for the 2024/25 season. This represents a 1.7% decline from the initial May 2024 estimate, yet a 2.4% increase from December 2024 figures. The rise in orange size, particularly from the fourth blossoming, and reduced fruit drop rates have contributed to this adjustment. Fundecitrus attributes favorable rainfall as a key factor in production.
Despite the increased supply, the sector grapples with low fruit quality and industrial productivity. This has exerted downward pressure on prices. In February, industry purchases averaged BRL 82.88 per box, experiencing a 3.63% decline from the prior week. Converted to USD, this equates to approximately $16.43 per box.
In the United States, Florida's orange production faces hurdles. The USDA reports the state's output is expected to reach 11.5 million boxes, a reduction of 500,000 boxes from January, marking a 36% decrease from the previous season.
Source: Cepea