STAT Communications Ag Market News

Orange Crop Collapses

WASHINGTON - Nov 10/15 - SNS -- Orange production in the United States for the 2015-2016 season is expected to total 5.50 million tons, down 5% from the previous forecast and down 14% from the 2014-2015 final utilization, according to the latest USDA crop production estimates for 2015.

The Florida all orange forecast, at 74.0 million boxes (3.33 million tons), is down 8% from last month's forecast and down 24% from last season's final utilization. Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 37.0 million boxes (1.67 million tons), down 8% from last month and down 22% from last season's final utilization.

The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 37.0 million boxes (1.67 million tons), is down 8% from last month and down 25% from last season's final utilization. California and Texas orange production forecasts were carried forward from the previous forecast.

Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield forecast for the 2015-2016 season is 1.58 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, down 2% from the October forecast but up 5% from last season's final yield of 1.50 gallons per box. Projected yield from the 2015-2016 non-Valencia and Valencia varieties will be published in the January Crop Production report. All projections of yield assume the processing relationships this season will be similar to those of the past several seasons.

Utilized Production of Citrus Fruits by Crop - States and United States: 2014-2015 and
Forecasted November 1, 2015
[The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with the completion of harvest the
following year]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :     Utilized production boxes 1/      :  Utilized production ton equivalent
        Crop and State        :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :     2014-2015     :     2015-2016     :     2014-2015     :     2015-2016
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              :      ------- 1,000 boxes -------              ------- 1,000 tons ------
Oranges                       :
Early, mid, and Navel 2/      :
  California 3/ ..............:       39,500              43,000              1,580               1,720
  Florida ....................:       47,400              37,000              2,133               1,665
  Texas 3/ ...................:        1,170               1,317                 50                  56
                              :
  United States ..............:       88,070              81,317              3,763               3,441
                              :
Valencia                      :
  California 3/ ..............:        9,500               9,500                380                 380
  Florida ....................:       49,400              37,000              2,223               1,665
  Texas 3/ ...................:          282                 366                 12                  16
                              :
  United States ..............:       59,182              46,866              2,615               2,061
                              :
All                           :
  California 3/ ..............:       49,000              52,500              1,960               2,100
  Florida ....................:       96,800              74,000              4,356               3,330
  Texas 3/ ...................:        1,452               1,683                 62                  72
                              :
  United States ..............:      147,252             128,183              6,378               5,502
                              :
Grapefruit                    :
White                         :
  Florida ....................:        3,250               2,700                138                 115
                              :
Red                           :
  Florida ....................:        9,650               9,500                410                 404
                              :
All                           :
  California 3/ ..............:        3,800               3,500                152                 140
  Florida ....................:       12,900              12,200                548                 519
  Texas 3/ ...................:        4,250               4,000                170                 160
                              :
  United States ..............:       20,950              19,700                870                 819
                              :
Tangerines and mandarins      :
Arizona 4/ 5/ ................:          170                (NA)                  7                (NA)
California 3/ 4/ .............:       18,200              19,000                728                 760
Florida ......................:        2,270               1,750                108                  83
                              :
United States ................:       20,640              20,750                843                 843
                              :
Lemons 3/                     :
Arizona ......................:        2,000               1,600                 80                  64
California ...................:       20,500              19,500                820                 780
                              :
United States ................:       22,500              21,100                900                 844
                              :
Tangelos                      :
Florida ......................:          680                 400                 31                  18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
1/   Net pounds per box: oranges in California-80, Florida-90, Texas-85; grapefruit in California-80,
     Florida-85, Texas-80; tangerines and mandarins in Arizona and California-80, Florida-95; lemons-80;
     tangelos-90.
2/   Navel and miscellaneous varieties in California. Early (including Navel) and midseason varieties in
     Florida and Texas. Small quantities of tangerines Temples in Florida.
3/   Estimates for current year carried forward from previous forecast.
4/   Includes tangelos and tangors.
5/   Estimates discontinued in 2015-2016.

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