Citriculture faces drop in productivity and effects of greening

Orange production in Brazil is expected to decline in the 2025/26 crop, impacted by climatic adversities and the progression of greening, according to data released by Itaú BBA. The expectation is for a drop in productivity in the orchards, even with areas similar to those of the previous cycle. The drier and more irregular climate during critical phases of plant development affected flowering and fruit set, which is already reflected in revisions of harvest estimates. The greening disease, which compromises the health of the trees and reduces the useful life of the orchards, remains a structural challenge for the sector. Although domestic prices are at a high level, driven by lower supply and good demand from the industry, the producer's profitability is pressured by increasing costs of management, phytosanitary control, and renewal of areas. The limited availability of fruit for the industry is expected to impact juice production, including exports, a segment in which Brazil is ...