The start of the overseas citrus season is marked by considerable uncertainty, notes Eddy Kreukniet of Exsa Europe. "This is largely due to the numerous global changes and varying opinions. The citrus market is truly international. For example, unrest in the United States is prompting exporters from Peru and South Africa to consider Europe as a safer market. This trend is already visible in tangerine and grapefruit export statistics. Whether this will lead to a significant increase in European volumes remains to be seen, but the first indications are evident."

"We are currently experiencing a strong lemon market. Despite an increased supply to Europe, demand is also high. Spain and Turkey have significantly lower volumes, making the additional supply a welcome relief for the market," Eddy explains. "In contrast, the tangerine market has had a slower start. Although the market is stable, demand is not overwhelming. This is primarily because Spain and Morocco extended their seasons longer than expected. We anticipated that their supplies of Nadorcott and Orri would be exhausted by weeks 17–18, but they are still available. Meanwhile, the overseas season has begun with Primasol from Peru and the first mandarins from South Africa. Both are expected to ship significantly larger volumes, but it remains uncertain how the market will react."

"The grapefruit market has been relatively empty in recent weeks due to an early end to the season in Turkey and Cyprus and shortages from Spain. South Africa is now starting with substantial volumes. Initial volumes will be manageable for the first two weeks, but will gradually increase. South Africa's harvest forecast is slightly higher than last year, suggesting that market prices may correct slightly in July," Eddy says. "The market for hand oranges has been tight for weeks. Spanish supplies are minimal, and South Africa is only now beginning to ship, likely starting next week rather than this week. Hand oranges are expected to arrive in late May in a favorable market, and I anticipate a relatively tight market for the next two months, especially with the transition from early Navels to medium and late varieties."

"The press orange market is also performing well. Shipments from Egypt have passed their peak, and the focus now is on managing the late arrivals until the end of June. Prices have risen slightly but remain balanced. South Africa is expected to experience a slight shortage at the start of the season, not due to a poor harvest, but because ideal black spot conditions in Limpopo, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe have reduced the volumes available for Europe in the early weeks. Some Moroccan oranges are still on the market, but their supply is unpredictable. Morocco also has a strong domestic market, which reduces the need for exports when local prices are favorable."

"Additionally, juice prices were a hot topic last year. Prices remain high, but the extreme pressure has eased, and they are now lower than last year. Alternatives are also expanding. Egypt has become more active in the juice market, and South Africa can increase production. Despite remaining relatively high based on the past five years, a price correction seems inevitable," Eddy concludes.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com