W20: Mandarin Update

In W20 in the mandarin landscape, it was reported that the consumption of citrus fruits in Spain and Europe has decreased significantly in the last decade, with mandarin consumption decreasing by 11.53% and orange consumption decreasing by 20%. Intercitrus and Ailimpo are inter-branch organizations for oranges and mandarins, respectively. Also, Spanish easy peelers recorded a 4.2% recovery after three weeks of decline, the mandarin recorded a recovery of 4.2%, placing it 44.1% above the previous year and 35.5% above the average, the highest of the last ten seasons. According to the exporters and farmers in Israel, the Israeli premium Orri mandarin 2023 season has been average but still better than in 2022. Since January 2023, the local currency in Israel has been weaker, which helped to maintain to pay the production costs when the high Orri prices started to decline in January. The Orri mandarin prices decreased in January 2023 before slightly improving at the end of March 2023.

Argentina's citrus industry is experiencing difficulties because of the drought, inflation, and currency issues, but producers have long-term commitments and will continue to supply world markets. Canada and the Philippines are both in need of citrus fruit. The prices in the Philippines are not as high as expected because they were importing South African mandarins. Despite shipping less supply of mandarins, Canada is still the largest consumer of Argentinean mandarins. On May 12, 2023, it is predicted that Florida will continue to produce 500K boxes of tangerines and mandarins for three consecutive months. It was reported in W20 that in 2022 Chilean mandarin shipments reached 89,130T, 97% of which were shipped to the US. Mandarins have the largest planted area in Chile, with 11,184ha. Dr. Johanna Mártiz, a specialist in citrus genetic improvement and citriculture, has created a new Chilean mandarin called Isabelina. It is an early clementine with a low probability of seeds, is easy to peel, and has a reddish-orange color and rounder shape. Further, the Isabelina variety will be shipped to the United States, where mandarins and clementines are sold seedless. Lastly, the mandarin campaign in Peru has been delayed due to high temperatures, resulting in fewer exports of early fruits such as Satsuma mandarin. Primosole mandarins have also seen a 39% drop in supply, while Eureka lemon shipments have decreased by 8%. By the end of the 2023 campaign, a 4% growth in citrus exports will be achieved despite the delays, with a forecast of 275KT.