Gradual increase in citrus production

According to the report by the Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) and the Foreign Agricultural Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), citrus production in Chile has been on the rise in the last 10 years. Lemons and mandarins have become an alternative for grape and avocado growers in the Coquimbo, O'Higgins, Valparaíso and Metropolitana regions.

 

Although the area planted with oranges has not increased like that of mandarins and lemons, its production is still relevant.

 

Lemon

 

According to data from the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies in Chile (ODEPA), the area planted with lemons grew from 5,911 hectares in the 2016/17 season to 8,038 hectares in 2021/22. The lemons grown in the summer months, between December and March, are destined for the domestic market, and during the winter months, between June and September, for the international market.

 

The local market absorbs 52% of the production, and the remaining 48% is exported. The main destination market for this Chilean fruit is the US, but it is also exported to Japan, China and Korea.

 

 

 

Oranges

 

The area planted with oranges amounted to 6,371 hectares in the 2021/22 campaign, according to ODEPA. This means a slight increase of 0.7% compared to the previous campaign.

 

However, the area planted has decreased significantly in the last 10 years as growers shifted to mandarins and lemons due to their higher profitability. As an example, the area planted with oranges in the 2011/12 campaign totaled 7,389 hectares.

 

About half of orange production is destined for the local market and the other half for the international market. The main international recipient continues to be the US, which receives 92% of total exports. Other countries: Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Canada.

 

 

Mandarins

 

In the 2021/22 campaign, the area planted with mandarins (includes mandarins, tangerines and clementines) increased by 32.6% compared to the 2019/20 campaign, totaling 11,194 hectares.

 

It should be noted that the area planted with these fruits in the 2011/12 season was 3,629 hectares.

 

The W. Murcott variety became an alternative to crops like orange or avocado. However, producers seek to diversify their offer with varieties such as Clemenules, Orogrande and Tango to export to other destinations such as China. About 83% of Chilean mandarin production is exported. The main destination is the US, but it is also sent to Canada, the United Kingdom and Puerto Rico.