Citrus production Europe declines

Due to bad weather in Spain, the European citrus production of the market year 2015-16 is 6.1 per cent lower than last year, according to the USDA in a recent report. Total production is estimated at 10,448,000 tonnes for the entire continent. Numbers were not that negative at product and country level.

Despite the estimate being revised downwards by 0.8 per cent, orange harvests increases by 17 per cent. Spanish cultivators choose different products more often and leave the orange cultivation, or they specialise in early and late varieties. A decrease is also expected for tangerines (-19%) and lemons (-31.6%).

Estimates citrus cultivation Europe 2015-16, in tonnes

Orange cultivation in Italy shows a recovery: production increases compared to last year. The cultivation is recovering in part thanks to investments in strains resistant to Tristeza. The estimate for tangerines has been revised upwards by 13 per cent, despite clementines showing a decline. The cultivation of lemons remains stable.

Greece is also showing an increase, and for all varieties. The profit in the orange cultivation is expected to be 9.4 per cent higher. A similar picture is being painted for tangerines. Cultivators expand the area, and besides, they choose clementines more often. An increase of 7.7 per cent is being taken into account for lemons.

In addition, we also have the smaller citrus countries of Portugal and Cyprus. Most estimates for Portugal are stable, although a sharp increase of 21 per cent is expected for oranges. The island of Cyprus is starting the cultivation of grapefruit. New plantations are being planted, mostly of the red varieties.