For marketing year (MY) 2022/23, fresh lemon production estimates have been revised to 1.65 million metric tons (MMT), down 6.5 percent from the official USDA estimate due to continued adverse weather and poor economic conditions, especially for smaller producers. Fresh orange production is estimated at 623,000 MT, down 177,000 MT from official USDA estimates, and fresh tangerine production is estimated at 285,000 MT, down 95,000 MT. As a result of lower production, lemon exports are expected to fall to 200,000 MT. This is a decline of 8 percent from official USDA estimates.

Sweet citrus exports are also expected to fall, with fresh orange exports forecast at 55,000 MT, a decrease of 8 percent, and tangerine exports forecast at 30,000 MT, a decrease of 47 percent from official USDA estimates.

The production decline is due to the impact of rising costs, which have prompted smaller producers to limit the maintenance needed on lemon-bearing trees and even abandon or convert their orchards. Prolonged unfavorable weather conditions have also played a role in the decline in lemon production. A severe drought in the main lemon-growing region of Argentina during the 2022 spring damaged many trees and reduced the size of the lemons that were produced.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com