A late May frost in Chilean citrus growing regions has diminished prospects for the 2022 citrus crop, the Chilean Citrus Committee reports.
Total 2022 Chilean citrus crop volume is now expected to fall 27% from 2021.
The new forecast is 290,300 tons, compared with 396,975 tons last year, according to a news release with details of the updated forecast. Before the late May frost, the Chilean Citrus Committee had expected the crop to be off 12% compared with a year ago.
Chilean clementines reflect the biggest drop in output compared with last year, falling 49% from 68,671 tons in 2021 to 34,800 tons in 2022, the release said.
Navel orange volume is expected to decline 20%, from 103,161 tons last year to 82,500 tons this year.
Lemon volume is anticipated at 100,542 tons this year, 22% lower than 78,000 tons in 2021.
The volume of mandarins, Chile’s largest citrus category, has a forecast of 95,000 tons this year, a drop of 24% compared with 124,601 tons in 2021.
The Citrus Committee said exporters have the capability to exclude damaged fruit from packing operations.
“Rigorous quality control procedures will be implemented throughout the season to ensure that Chile’s global citrus markets are receiving consistently high-quality fruit,” the committee said in the release.
The release said Chile has exported nearly 51,000 tons of citrus through June 26, including 29,094 tons of clementines, 6,985 tons of navels and 14,514 tons of lemons.
The U.S. continues to be the largest market for Chilean citrus exports, according to the release. So far this season, the Chilean Citrus Committee said the U.S. market has received 53% of lemons, 88% of navels and 99% of clementines. Promotion support is available now through October, according to the release.
Through July 2, the USDA reported that the season-to-date shipment of Chilean clementines to the U.S. totaled 10.55 million pounds, down from 29.53 million pounds at the same time a year ago. Through July 2, U.S. imports of Chilean lemons totaled 410,000 pounds, down from 1.37 million pounds received the same time a year ago.
