Spanish Citrus Campaign Faces Higher Prices Amid Slower Harvest
The 2023/2024 citrus season in Spain is showing notable progress, with weather conditions in the Community of Valencia and Castellón affecting yields after late summer and autumn hail and wind events. This pattern helps limit the resumption of citrus exports to the United States, yet it coincides with prices rising by almost 50 percent above the average of the prior five campaigns. In other words, producers may enjoy improved returns despite a tighter supply situation.
These observations align with the European Commission’s agriculture and rural development metrics published last October, which note that the value of citrus fruit moved from warehouses registered at roughly 90 euros per 100 kilograms. This translates to about 0.9 euros per kilogram for the fruit held by cooperatives and private firms.
Industry players explain that the higher prices reflect distribution margins, inflation-driven operating costs across the agri-food chain, and historically low production versus previous years. As the first phase of the 2023/24 campaign unfolds, orange and tangerine exports to the European Union remain the central market for foreign sales, with the EU representing a major destination for Spanish citrus.
The European Commission’s balance sheet for citrus also highlights price gains in Spanish production, noting a growth rate comparable to Italy’s 48 percent but lower than Greece’s 73 percent. Spain’s production volume, however, is substantially larger, being twice Italy’s output and six times Greece’s. This dynamic underscores Spain’s pivotal role in the European citrus market.
Compared with farmgate prices, early forecasts indicate that Navelina oranges could fetch higher prices than in the previous year. First-quality oranges are anticipated to be priced between 0.38 and 0.42 euros per kilogram, while industrial-grade oranges are expected to range from 0.30 to 0.32 euros per kilogram, driven by the drop in overall production.
The EU remains highly dependent on citrus imports, with approximately half of Spanish exports destined for Germany and France, the two most populous nations in Europe. Collectively, the European Union plus the United Kingdom accounts for about 91 to 93 percent of Spanish orange and tangerine exports, reflecting a strong continental appetite for these fruits.
Capacity and Outlook for Spain
Industry forecasts for the progression of citrus prices within the European Union suggest a continued rise during the initial phase of the campaign as the main tangerine varieties such as clementines come to market. Based on the capacity of Spain’s autonomous communities, the 2023/24 harvest is estimated at 5.754 million tonnes, with Valencia contributing roughly 2.8 million tonnes. While this level edges above the most recent season, it sits about 14.4 percent below the five-year average.
According to official data, a notable reduction in the output of oranges and small citrus fruits contrasts with increases in lemon and grapefruit production. Excluding the 2022/23 season, the current campaign is projected to be the shortest in over a decade. Global production is foreseen to total just over 24,000 tonnes, a drop of nearly a million tonnes from the average, with oranges accounting for about 86 percent of the total.
Overall, the citrus sector in Spain demonstrates resilience amid erratic weather and market shifts. While some producers grapple with tighter margins and higher costs, others benefit from firmer price levels and robust demand within the European market. This combination suggests a cautious but hopeful trajectory for the remainder of the campaign, particularly for those varieties that perform best in the current weather and market conditions, and for regional players who can capitalize on the EU’s steady appetite for Spanish citrus [EC Report, European Commission, 2023].