Export of U.S. citrus showed mixed trends in the 2022-23 marketing season, according to the USDA.
USDA data for the marketing year of September through August show total citrus exports of grapefruit, lemons and limes and oranges and tangerines totaled $751 million, only slightly changed from $748 million for the same period the previous year. Total citrus exports of those varieties were far below the 2019 pre-pandemic total of $951 million, according to the USDA.
Oranges and tangerines were the top exported citrus fruit in the latest year, with $592 million in sales in 2022-23, the USDA said. That is up 8% from 2022 but down 14% from two years ago. Exports increased to Canada and Mexico but decreased to most Asian destinations, according to trade data.
Lemon and lime exports totaled $132 million in 2022-23, down 14% from last season and down 11% from two years ago.
Fresh grapefruit exports were down 40% in 2022-23, dropping from $44.3 million last season to $27 million in 2022-23, the USDA numbers showed.
USDA figures show grapefruit exports dropped to many major destinations like South Korea (down 54%), Japan (down 51%) and Canada (down 20%) from 2022 to 2023.
Emerging markets like Vietnam and Indonesia saw declines in citrus purchases in 2023 while exports increased to Central America, according to the USDA.
The USDA shows declines for nearly all citrus exports to China and uncertainty in trade relationships with China.
In summary, total citrus exports are recovering but show volatility across major trading partners, with declines in Northeast Asia contrasting with growth in the Americas, the USDA reports.
