2023-05-24 19:41:54
The 2022/23 citrus harvesting campaign is coming to an end. Almost out of stock already in the orange plantations of the Valencian Community, Andalusia, Murcia and Catalonia, the citrus picking season in the field, although the warehouses are still working with products stored in cold rooms, it concludes with a good evolution of prices at origin that triple the values of the previous fresh harvesting period -one of the worst in history-, as confirmed by the latest information bulletins from the Valencia and Córdoba Lodges. These entities serve as a reference for the entire Spanish citrus sector and the quotations they reflect have improved as a result of the reduction in supply due to climatic factors that affected the flowering and development of the fruits since the spring of last year.
After one decrease in harvest to a global volume of 5.8 million tons of oranges, tangerines and lemons (-17.7%) throughout Spain, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, that is to say, the lowest in recent decades, the prices paid to farmers have skyrocketed compared to those of the previous year. In the case of the later varieties, which close the season, Valencia Late has been sold in the field between 0.37 and 0.52 euros/kilogram; or what is the same, between 4.8 and 6.6 euros/roll (almost 12 kilograms). It has also improved that of the late varieties Barberina and Mid-night, which have been between 4.8 and 7.2 euros per bushel, compared to an average of 1.8-3.1 euros/bush of the previous campaign, which amounts to a little more than double the value.
“Star Tangerines”
Besides, the income of the producers of the so-called “star mandarins”, which are varieties protected by “royalties”, is growing significantly, that is to say, those that pay rent to the holder of the planting and marketing rights, usually in the hands of a company or a large citrus company. This is the case of the Israeli Orri, which at the end of the harvest a couple of weeks ago – last quote at the Llotja de Valencia – reached 1.5 euros per kilogram; which means a little more than 19 euros per roll. Meanwhile, Nadorcott, Tango and Ortanique, although without values as high as Orri, have also recorded prices much higher than in 2022, according to the Valencia and Córdoba Citrus Market.
At the end of the campaign, the price forecasts from the sector have been fulfilled in 2022/23 in general terms, reaching higher values than the previous campaign (+60.2% in oranges, +24.1% in mandarins and +29.8% in lemons). All in all, from the agricultural organizations remember that the quotations in the field of oranges in 2021/22 were the lowest of the last five campaigns, as endorsed by the Price Observatory of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Beyond the prices, which in some cases have not been used to cover operating costs, due to the increase in energy and phytosanitary fees, there is another factor that is of great concern to the sector: consumption of citrus fruit in Spain has decreased by five kilograms per capita in just one decade, both in Spain and in the rest of Europe. According to the international agri-food consultant Francisco Borrás, in the case of tangerines the decrease of 11.53% “is already worrying”, although “it is even more so due to the fact that due to varietal renewal new varieties have appeared such as Nadorcott, Tango and Orri which have extended the campaign by two months and in annual terms mandarins are falling more than the average. We are facing a clear decline”, he concludes.
Less consumption in Europe
At a time when EU imports of oranges from Egypt have grown by 82% from January to April this year compared to the same period last year, and 40.8% more than the average of last 5 years, according to the report of the General Directorate of Production and Markets of the Ministry of Agriculture, Europe has also reduced the consumption of oranges by 20%. The citrus sector, organized through the interprofessional association for oranges and tangerines, Intercitrus, and another for lemons and grapefruits, Ailimpo, is trying to combat this drop in consumption with promotion plans. However, resources, unlike other Spanish food organizations, are scarce.
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