USDA predicts better year for Mexican citrus

Mexican orange production will rebound in 2021 after drought cut the 2020 crop by 40%, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The report, an annual update on Mexican citrus, estimated that Mexican orange production in 2020-21 will be 4.01 million metric tons, 58% more than a year ago thanks to a return to normal weather conditions in Veracruz.

Still, the USDA said lingering soil health effects and low producer investments in orchard rehabilitation will slow a full recovery. “Lack of government support for drought recovery, production inputs, and pest mitigation is likely to prevent significant sector growth in the coming years,” the report said.

Also, the USDA said foodservice demand in Mexico has been hurt by COVID-19 capacity restrictions, and that will continue to hurt growers.
Mexican orange planted area for marketing year 2020-21 (November through October) is forecast at 848,000 acres, a small increase from a year ago. The USDA said the recovery from last year’s drought and permanent changes to weather patterns is expected to affect orange production more greatly than other citrus.

Mexico continues to face challenges with citrus greening, or Huanglongbing (HLB), the report said. Since its first detection in 2009, the disease has been found in Veracruz, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, and Nuevo Leon. In 2019, Baja California had HLB positive detections along the California/Mexico border region, according to the report.

Mexican fresh orange exports to the U.S. in 2020-21 are forecast at 61,000 metric tons, with most of the oranges shipped to the U.S. being navel oranges grown in Sonora, the USDA said.

Limes and lemons

The report said Mexico is typically the world’s second-largest producer of limes. Harvested area for 2020-21 is set at about 441,000 acres, with peak shipments expected between May and October. Lime production in 2020-21 is forecast at 2.87 million metric tons, 6% higher than a year ago.

Veracruz, the leading Persian lime producing state, will have planted area of about 256,000 acres. Persian lime trees in Veracruz are newer and more efficient, with 12 blooms or harvests per year, according to the USDA report.

Meanwhile, the report said the state of Michoacán is the leading key lime producer in Mexico, followed by Colima. Planted area for marketing year 2020-21 is expected to reach 239,000 acres, 

The USDA said Italian lemons are grown in the states of Tamaulipas, Yucatan, San Luis Potosi, Colima, and Nuevo Leon. Producers in Veracruz also have invested in lemon production, with positive results, the report said. Lemon production is forecast at 135,320 metric tons in 2020-21 on about 24,000 acres, according to the USDA. 

THE USDA said total Mexican lemon/lime exports to the U.S. in 2020-21 are forecast at 852,000 metric tons, 6% percent higher than the previous year. Mexico is the top supplier of limes to the U.S., and the U.S. market accounts for over 80% of total Mexico’slime exports. Mexican fresh grapefruit exports for marketing year 2020-21 are forecast at 21,000 metric tons, most of which will go to the U.S., the USDA said.