Argentina: Citrus Semi-annual
Production of lemons and oranges in MY 2014/2015 is forecast to increase (although it will still be down from normal levels), as a result of good weather conditions and the recuperation of plants that had been previously affected by frosts. Excess rain in the summer of 2015 delayed the lemon harvest, affected the fruit quality and reduced fruit pack-out yield. Lemon production is estimated at 1.15 million metric tons (MMT), orange production is forecast at 950,000 MT, and tangerine production will remain unchanged at 450,000 MT. Lemon exports were revised down to 200,000 MT. Orange exports will decrease slightly to 65,000 MT and tangerine exports will remain unchanged at 90,000 MT in line with USDA estimates. Larger lemon volumes are expected to be devoted to processing due to high prices paid for lemon by-products and some fruit quality defects as a result of excess rains.
