"The abnormal weather concentrated supply in just a few weeks. In addition, the Russian ban meant the European market was flooded with Spanish produce, undermining the fragile cost-profit balance."
"Almost 70% of Italian clementines are grown in Calabria, and the rest is cultivated in Apulia, Sicily and Basilicata. Businesses already have to deal with taxes and bureaucracy, and this situation risks compromising the economy of entire regions further."
Businesses are working at a loss and won't even manage to cover production costs. Clementines on plants are currently sold at only 15-18 cents/kg. "There is the need for exceptional support measures, as we need to avoid what happened in the summer, when a slow response compromised the whole campaign."
According to agronomist and citrus growing expert Francesco Perri, we should even be talking about "8/10 cents per kg - the season is going catastrophically and part of the produce will remain unsold. Common clementines are the ones doing the worst, as there is a lot of competition. We need to diversify and reorganise the sector."
According to Ismea data, prices have already dropped by 35% in just over a month.
Below chart in Italian: