The US Department of Agriculture's recent Global Citrus Market and Trade report shows that while citrus producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere generally increased production, most producing countries in the Northern Hemisphere reduced production due to poor weather conditions. Global citrus production will decline across all varieties this season, with total production expected to fall by more than 4.8 million tons.

Citrus/Mandarin

Global citrus/mandarin production is expected to decrease by 900,000 tonnes to 36.9 million tonnes in the 2022/23 season due to adverse weather conditions and significant declines in China and Morocco.

China's production is expected to be 26.5 million tons, down 2 percent, but still the world's largest. Domestic consumption is expected to decline while exports increase, with Indonesia and Vietnam remaining China's largest export markets. Although production increased in Greece, it was not enough to offset the loss of production in Spain due to high summer temperatures. Production in the European Union, the second largest producing region, is expected to fall by 4% to 3 million tonnes, and the reduction in production will reduce consumption and exports, with Morocco and South Africa remaining the main suppliers. Production in Turkey, the third largest producer, is expected to rise slightly to 1.9 million tonnes as the impact of cold weather during the flowering season is lower than expected, and its exports are expected to be flat.

Morocco's production is estimated to fall 32% to 927,000 tonnes due to high temperatures, water shortages and reduced harvest area. Domestic consumption and exports are expected to fall, with exports likely to fall by a third, with the EU, Russia and the US remaining its largest export markets. Benefiting from favorable weather conditions in California and higher production per unit, U.S. production is expected to rise 23 percent to 819,000 tons, but still the second-lowest level in nearly five years, with consumption and imports expected to decline, but exports expected to increase.

South Africa's production is expected to increase by 41,000 tonnes to 680,000 tonnes, a nearly 12-year high. This is mainly due to the availability of adequate irrigation water in the main producing areas due to favourable rainfall, while consumption and exports are expected to increase as more and more new acreage reaches full fruition. Peru's production is expected to fall by 20,000 tonnes to 550,000 tonnes due to the late season and lower harvest of early varieties, while exports will be flat. Chile's production is expected to increase by 27% to 215,000 tonnes and exports are expected to increase by 25% to 180,000 tonnes, thanks to new orchards coming into production and favourable rainfall boosting production.

Orange

While a bumper crop of oranges is expected in Egypt, the European Union, Turkey and the United States have seen production cuts. Global orange production this season is expected to decline by 2.64 million tonnes, or 5%, to 47.8 million tonnes.

Because it is a small year and yields per tree are low, the number one orange country, Brazil, is expected to reduce its production by 179,000 tons to 16.8 million tons. The reduced supply will lead to a drop in the amount used for processing, and its orange juice exports will be reduced by 10,000 tons. China's production is expected to rise slightly to a record 7.6m tonnes thanks to expanded acreage, with consumption and imports expected to rise but exports likely to fall. Due to an unusually hot and dry summer in Spain and Italy, production in the EU is expected to fall by 13% to 5.9 million tonnes, with fresh orange consumption, processing and exports all falling, with Egypt and South Africa continuing to be the main import suppliers.

Mexico's production is expected to fall by 395,000 tonnes to 4.2 million tonnes due to a prolonged drought in northeastern Mexico. Us production is expected to fall by more than a quarter to 2.3 million tonnes, the lowest level in 56 years, as harvests in Florida continue to decline due to reduced acreage and the impact of citrus greening and hurricanes.

Benefiting from an increased harvest area and favorable flowering weather for fruit, Egypt's production is expected to increase by 600,000 tons, matching the record 3.6 million tons, and its exports will increase, with the main export markets expected to remain the European Union, Russia and Saudi Arabia. Morocco's production is expected to fall 367,000 tonnes to 783,000 tonnes, with consumption and exports expected to fall by about a third due to a reduced harvest area, poor weather conditions and water shortages during the growing season.

Favorable weather conditions in South Africa this season, coupled with a slight increase in harvested area, are expected to slightly increase production to a record 1.6 million tonnes. Exports are expected to follow suit, reaching a record high for the third year in a row. Thanks to favorable weather conditions and a slight increase in harvest area, Chile's production is expected to increase by 10,000 tons to 174,000 tons, and consumption and exports are expected to increase.

Grapefruit

Due to poor weather conditions and reduced production in China, Mexico, Turkey and the United States, global grapefruit production this season is expected to decline by 158,000 tons, down 2 percent, to 6.8 million tons. China, the No. 1 producer, is expected to cut production by 50,000 tons, while South Africa's output is expected to rise by 4,000 tons.

Lemon/Lime

Due to weather-related declines in Argentina, the European Union, Turkey and the United States, global lemon/lime production is expected to decrease by 1.135 million tons, down 11 percent to about 9.1 million tons.