Production and exports of Australian fresh oranges in the summer of 2020 will be down slightly, according to a new estimate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
The report said Australian orange production in the marketing year starting April 2020 to March 2021 is forecast at 500,000 metric tons, which is down slightly from the previous season.
Fresh orange exports from Australia for the 2020-21 season are forecast at 190,000 metric tons, down about 5,000 metric or 3% compared the previous year. U.S. imports of Australian citrus totaled 8,500 metric tons in 2019, down 32% from 13,800 metric tons in 2018.
“While exports increased rapidly between 2014 and 2017, however with stable production during the past few years exports have leveled out at between 185,000 to 195,000 metric tons annually,” the report said.
From April to October 2019, Australia’s fresh orange exports are up 5% compared with a year ago. China accounts for about 30% of Australia’s orange exports,
