Argentine Citrus Crop Sinks

WASHINGTON - May 27/08 - SNS -- Citrus fruit is production is down sharply on account of frost and drought, but high international values will see a greater proportion of the crop exported, believes the U.S. agricultural attache for the country.

Overall, calendar year 2008 citrus production is estimated to drop to 2.47 million metric tons (MT) as a smaller production of all four types of citrus is expected. Last July's severe frost proved more harmful than initially expected, causing net losses for all citrus production in the country.

In 2008, lemon production is expected to decrease to 1.1 million MT due to lower yields, despite management improvements. Orange production is expected to fall to 800,000 MT in 2008. Tangerine production in 2008 is expected to shrink to 350,000 MT due to the late frost and a hail storm in October of 2007 that affected most of the production area in Northeastern Argentina (NEA). Sources in the industry report that the hail storm decreased yields up to 50% on some farms. Currently, a drought in the NEA is affecting both tangerine and orange yields and quality. Grapefruit production is forecast to drop to 220,000 MT due to unfavorable weather in the main production region in Northwestern Argentina (NOA).

Overall, 2007 was a great year for the Argentine citrus production. According to sources in the industry, production of oranges, tangerines and grapefruit was favorable in terms of yields, quality, and prices with only isolated quality problems in orange production due to late frosts in the spring of 2007.

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