W13: Weekly Orange Update
Brazil
Pear Orange Prices End the Week on a High in Brazil (Mar 31)
Pear orange prices recorded a slight increase in W13 due to a decrease in supply. In W13's partial (Monday to Thursday), the pear variety has an average of USD 9.75/ 40.8kg box (BRL 49.35/ 40.8kg box), a high of 3.14% compared to the previous period.
China
For the First Time Iranian Oranges Arrive in China (Mar 27)
On March 17, 2023, the first batch of fresh citrus from Iran arrived in Shanghai by air. The shipment consisted of Navel oranges, weighing 1,780kg, and they were quickly cleared and released the next day by customs officials. This procedure lasted less than 15 hours, allowing the fruit to remain fresh.
Decreased Demand for Egyptian Oranges in the Shanghai’s Wholesale Market Due to the Low Temperature (Mar 27)
In W10, the price of Egyptian oranges stood at USD 18.90-21.81/15kg (RMB 130-150/15kg) for good quality brands in the Shanghai wholesale market. While in W13, the price of Egyptian oranges drops to USD 17.44-18.90/15kg (RMB 120-130/15kg). The demand is low due to the low temperature in China.
Mexico
In W12, the phytosanitary requirements for the entry of Chilean citrus into the Mexican market were published, following a long negotiation process to allow entry without product treatment. Previously, the phytosanitary requirements for clementines required the application of methyl bromide treatment, which impacted the quality of the fruit by phytotoxicity, discouraging the exportation of clementines and other citrus from Chile to Mexico. The establishment of phytosanitary measures for Chilean clementines/mandarins and lemons, agreed upon by both countries, has allowed Chilean citrus to enter the Mexican market for the 2023 production season under an inspection system.
Benefiting Chilean citrus exporters, as it expands and diversifies market opportunities. Additionally, the opening of the Mexican market to Chilean citrus is significant, given that Mexico is the fourth-largest global producer of citrus, while Chile is the seventh. The most consumed citrus in the Mexican market is oranges, with an average of 34kg per person per year, followed by other citrus fruits such as mandarins, clementines, and lemons.
This development represents a positive step for the Chilean citrus industry, allowing them to deliver high-quality post-harvest fruit to Mexican consumers and improve competitiveness with local production.
Italy
In Palermo, Only Foreign Oranges Are on the Market (Mar 29)
The oranges at the Palermo market are mostly Spanish, Egyptian, and Turkish, according to Luca Ferlito, commander of the Sicilian Forestry Corps. The foresters are active in the repression of fraud, as evidenced by the latest blitz with the seizure of goods and penalties for traders who do not comply with the rules on traceability. The last blitz was a hunt for non-native oranges with the use of up to ten teams of foresters.
The Sicilian Blood Orange Consortium Thanked Foresters in Italy (Mar 31)
Gerardo Diana, president of the Sicilian blood orange consortium, thanked the Forestry Corps and Noras for the work of capillary checks that allowed the discovery of over 1k kg of oranges without traceability in the Palermo fruit and vegetable market.
