In MY 2020/21, EU citrus production is projected to rebound 10.4 percent compared to previous season to 11.7 mln tons. Favorable weather conditions in the top EU citrus-producing countries contributed to this recovery. Increased domestic supplies, higher demand for citrus derived from the pandemic and the reopening of the hospitality sector may encourage EU citrus exports but discourage EU imports.
Spain is the major citrus supplier to the EU market. Switzerland, Norway, and Serbia, followed by Canada, Brazil, and the Middle East continue to be strategic export markets outside the EU. In MY 2019/20, additional tariffs impacted citrus trade between the United States and the EU. Additional issues concerning trade agreements and agricultural bans may also influence global citrus trade.
For MY 2020/21, EU orange production is forecast 5.2 percent higher than the previous season to 6.5 tons, but 0.4 percent lower than previous estimations. Correspondingly, orange juice production in the EU is forecast to rise almost 25 percent compared to the previous period to 89,228 mln tons and 1.4 percent higher than previously estimated. This forecast aligns with the expected volume of EU oranges destined for processing in MY 2020/21.
The MY 2020/21 EU lemon production is forecast to increase almost 11.7 percent compared to previous season to 1,654 MMT and 0.8 percent higher than previous estimations. EU grapefruit production is estimated to increase 8 percent compared to previous season to 103,000 MT. Over the last decade, EU’s total orange and mandarin planted area shrunk while citrus farms are increased productivity, sustainability, and performance. Conversely, EU total lemon and grapefruit planted area continues to trend upwards mainly due to the growth in Spain in response to global market demand.
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Source: fas.usda.gov