Citrus fruits are cultivated in more than 140 countries all over the world, mainly in Brazil, the United States, China and the Mediterranean countries. A rough estimate reveals that, in recent years, the global citrus industry produced nearly 100 million tons of citrus, 2/3 of which were produced in the northern hemisphere and 1/3 in the southern hemisphere.
Over the past decade, Australia's citrus exports have been growing constantly. The income from these exports almost doubled from 185 million Australian dollars in 2007, up to 328 million Australian dollars this year. One of the largest export markets is China. Ten years ago China imported only 2000 tons of citrus, including a large number of products that were imported to the mainland from Hong Kong. Australian exporters have invested a lot of energy in marketing and also to meet the high standards for food import. By 2016, Australia's citrus export to China has reached 40,000 tons. Export turnover increased by 420% in ten years and amounted to 72 million Australian dollars.
According to the the latest data from Australian Citrus Association (CitrusAustralia), 2016 was a record-breaking year for Australian citrus exports. In november 2016, the global total export volume of citrus was nearly 220,000 tons, almost a 10% yearly rise. Tania Chapman, chairman of the Australian Citrus Association, said that the growing global demand for citrus, especially in the Asian market, is contributing to the revitalization of Australia's high-quality citrus industry. It encourages Australian farmers to invest in new varieties and update their cultivation techniques, which takes citrus production and quality to the next level.
Source: Fu Bao
