South African lemon harvest +10%

South Africa's lemon harvest is expected to increase by 10 percent in 2023/24 due to adequate irrigation and increased investment from growers, while the mandarin harvest is expected to increase by 4 percent. The remaining citrus varieties are expected to decline slightly, grapefruit by 5 percent and oranges by 1 percent, due to a reduction in planted area, as growers are less optimistic about the prospects and do not replace old trees. Orange juice production is expected to decline by 3 percent due to an increase in the route of oranges to the export market. Despite expectations of stronger demand from export markets, the citrus industry is challenged by inefficient port operations, deteriorating transportation infrastructure and ongoing pest and disease concerns that continue to hamper exports. Duty-free citrus exports to the United States under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) are expected to continue their strong annual growth as the United States is considered a ...