Up to 400 million kilos of Spanish lemons will remain unharvested

Spain is the world's sixth-largest producer and a leading exporter of fresh citrus. The country's citrus sector faces considerable challenges, particularly with its star products: lemons and oranges. According to the Ministry of Agriculture's Interactive Foreign Trade Report, in 2023 Spain exported lemons and oranges worth 798.86 million euros and 1,203.32 million euros respectively, despite relatively low imports. However, the sector is affected by an oversupply of lemons and a fall in orange prices at origin, aggravated by competition from countries such as Egypt, South Africa, and Turkey.

Agricultural organizations such as Asaja and UPA have pointed out that the overproduction of lemons has caused low prices at origin and many producers to leave up to 400 million kilos of this fruit unharvested. Antonio Moreno, from UPA, said this year's lemon production could reach 1.45 million tons, a significant increase over the usual 1.1 or 1.2 million tons. This increase in production, coupled with a decrease in consumption due to inflation, has complicated managing exports, which have only increased marginally despite promotional campaigns.

Oranges face a similar situation, with a decrease in production due to high temperatures and a drop in their value at origin. As a result, producers face difficulties competing in the international market, especially against the main lemon-producing countries, such as South Africa and Argentina, whose production seasons do not coincide with the Spanish one.

Moreno also criticizes the lack of effective regulations that allow production costs to be reflected in sales prices, which has prompted many producers not to harvest. Faced with this situation, UPA has asked the Ministry of Agriculture to implement an extension of the rule that forces all producers to stop marketing a percentage of their production, to protect small farms and stabilize the market.

The Spanish citrus sector requires coordinated and effective strategies to face its challenges -marked by oversupply and intense international competition- to ensure the sustainability and profitability of local producers.

Source: lainformacion.com