W46: Weekly Lemon & Lime Update
Turkey
Turkish Citrus Prices Remain High in W45, Resulting in Low Demand (Nov 14)
The 2022/23 Turkish citrus season is currently characterized by low demand and high prices. Although W45 is the last harvest week of the Interdonato lemon variety, the prices are still high at USD 0.90-1.00/kg EXW. Grapefruit and early satsuma mandarin exports are just starting with comparable prices to the previous season ranging from USD 0.86-0.95/kg EXW. The low demand for Turkish citrus in the 2022/23 season is mainly attributed to high prices, high shipping costs, and competition from South African lemons during the first week of export. As a result, there is less demand from the EU and most exports are destined for Russia. Therefore, the Turkish domestic market is more attractive than exporting.
Brazil
Brazilian Exporters of Tahiti Acid Lime Continue to Wait for Clearance to Resume Their Exports to EU (Nov 14)
In Brazil, suspended exporters of Tahiti acid lime due to the presence of citrus canker have been waiting for an answer from the Brazilian government since June 2022 for the necessary checks at the packing houses and farms to obtain approval to resume exports to the EU. However, the government has not followed protocols or provided feedback to exporters. The situation has become critical, as many employees at Tahiti lime farms were laid off due to the lack of export.
Russia
More Than Two Thousand Tons of Citrus Fruits Have Already Been Delivered From Abkhazia to Russia (Nov 16)
The customs officers have a busy time - they process up to 130 tons of citrus fruits per day. In addition to tangerines, entrepreneurs import feijoa, persimmon, lemons, and oranges. In total, more than 2.5K tons of agricultural products were imported from the neighboring republic. This season, Abkhazian farmers predict a big harvest. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Abkhazia, about 55K tons of fruits are planned to be imported into Russia.
Spain
The regional government requested today from the Government of Spain the immediate approval of all the necessary protocols to be able to export citrus from the Region of Murcia to any country in the world. This was the main conclusion of the meeting held this Monday between the president of the Community, Fernando López Miras, and the president of the Lemon and Grapefruit Interprofessional Association (Ailimpo), José Hernández. The Minister of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, the Environment and Emergencies, Antonio Luengo, explained after the work meeting held at the Palacio de San Esteban that "we need to be certain that our producers can export to any part of the world without counting on blockades like the ones that are suffering, for example, the lemon in certain areas of Southeast Asia”.
The Lemon and Grapefruit Interprofessional Association (Ailimpo) wants the central government to approve the necessary protocols to be able to export citrus to all countries in the world. For this reason, the Autonomous Community has requested the Government of Spain to immediately approve these protocols, at the request of Ailimpo, as revealed in the meeting held yesterday between the head of the Murcian Executive, Fernando López Miras, and the president of the interprofessional José Hernández. The Minister of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Environment, and Emergencies, Antonio Luengo, explained after the work meeting held at the Palacio de San Esteban that "we need to have the certainty that our producers can export to any part of the world without counting on blockades like the ones that are suffering, for example, the lemon in certain areas of Southeast Asia."
Lemon Could Have a Harvest Potential of Close to 1.8M Tons in 2026 (Nov 17)
"Lemon is in fashion," says the director of Ailimpo, José Antonio García. And not only among consumers but also among Spanish citrus producers, who are strongly investing in this crop. Despite a drop in production for this campaign, commercial prospects augur a good future for Spanish lemons —both in this campaign and in coming years— largely as a result of the increase in organic demand and the guarantees that offer the citrus that has grown the most in recent years: "a local, sustainable, quality product for Europe and with a reduced carbon and water footprint to the maximum" Valencia Fruits. What forecasts does Ailimpo have for the current Fino and Verna lemon campaign? Jose Antonio Garcia. Our initial estimate for this 2022/2023 lemon campaign is for a production volume of close to 1.09M tons in Spain, which would mean an overall decrease of 10% compared to the 2021/2022 period.
Expect a Very Large Drop in Citrus Production This Season (Nov 17)
The head of Fruit and Vegetables at Asaja Málaga, Benjamín Faulí, explains that the difficult weather conditions this year during flowering and fruit set have led to a forecast drop of 20.9% in the production of lemons. All these climatic incidents have caused this forecast of a decrease in the production of lemons. In Spain, there are two main varieties: Fino and Verna. And, also have some Eureka variety, among others. The national market demands the most to have supplied throughout the year. Although Spain can close the annual cycle ensuring quality and quantity, which means that imports from Turkey, Argentina, or South Africa increasingly overlap with national ones.
Vietnam
Vietnam Reached an Agreement to Export Lemons and Grapefruits to New Zealand (Nov 15)
Vietnam is preparing to export fresh lemons and pomelos to New Zealand. It is one of the important agreements signed at the "AgriConnectioNZ Dialogue and Exhibition: Strategic Partnership in Agriculture" that took place on November 15 in Vietnam and New Zealand are natural partners in the agricultural sector. Agriculture has been the cornerstone of the relationship between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than 45 years ago. The event was organized by the New Zealand Embassy in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, within the framework of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's visit to Vietnam.
Many New Zealanders Are Happy to Have Lemons From Vietnam All Year Round (Nov 15)
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern attended the ceremony to announce the export of fresh lemons and pomelos from Vietnam to New Zealand. This is an event on the sidelines of her visit to Vietnam. She said there will be a lot of New Zealanders happy because they now have lemons to eat all year round. Grapefruit and lemon are the 4th and 5th most likely exported fruits of Vietnam to New Zealand after mango, dragon fruit, and rambutan. The two sides signed an agreement to facilitate the clearance of many products through the use of electronic certification in July 2020. Trade turnover of agriculture, forestry, and fishery between the two countries last year reached nearly USD 550M, accounting for 41% of total bilateral trade turnover.
Two More Vietnamese Fruits Are Officially Exported to New Zealand (Nov 16)
The New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam said that on November 15, Vietnam and New Zealand signed an agreement to export Vietnamese green lemons and pomelos to New Zealand; strengthen cooperation between New Zealand and Vietnam in crop production. The signing ceremony was carried out within the framework of the dialogue and exhibition "AgriConnectioNZ: Strategic Partnership in Agriculture" organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture-Bio-Security-Land Information. and Rural Affairs New Zealand organized during the visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to Vietnam. Accordingly, green lemon and grapefruit are the two fruits exported to New Zealand after mango, dragon fruit, and rambutan.
Vietnamese Pomelos and Lemons Are Exported to New Zealand (Nov 16)
Vietnamese fruit pomelo and lemon are the fourth and fifth fruits exported from Vietnam to New Zealand after mango, dragon fruit, and rambutan. The signing and opening of the market for these two agricultural products is a stepping stone toward the next trade opportunities between the two countries. Like other agricultural products, Vietnam has to be transparent and standardize all processes because they not only sell agricultural products but also convey the image of Vietnam. Vietnam and New Zealand signed an agreement to facilitate the clearance of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products through the use of electronic certificates in July 2020. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the trade turnover between the two countries is expected to reach nearly USD 550M in 2021.
