Lime Prices in Italy Increase USD 1/kg YoY Due to High Demand and Low Supply

There has been instability in the Italian lime market this year. In May 2022, logistics disruptions combined with high domestic demand created a lime shortage in the Italian market. Reports on the rise in price and scarcity from South and Central America, major lime production regions, worried Italian buyers in the past few months, while it gave suppliers from different southern European countries the opportunity to capitalise on the high price and low availability.

In Italy, prices for Sicilian limes (Citrus Limetta) have risen from USD 1.74/kg EXW in 2021 to USD 2.72/kg EXW in May-June 2022. The YoY price increase is mostly due to high demand during the summer season together with the drop in COVID-related restrictions and openings of bars and restaurants. At this time of year most of the limes in the Italian market are imported from Brazil through Rotterdam. in W36, the wholesale price for limes were USD 3,14/kg.