Supply of the 2023/24 citrus harvest is expected to be below demand

The orange blossoms of the 2023/24 harvest, which occurred in the second half of 2022, were considered excellent in the citrus belt of São Paulo and the Triângulo Mineiro, which generated, at that time, expectations of a good harvest. However, Cepea researchers indicate that the weather after the openings and also during the picking was not ideal in many areas, which could mean that the next season will also have a lower supply than the demand for oranges.

The first estimate, released by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) in December, is that Brazilian production is 305 million boxes of 40,8 kg, a slight drop of 1,9% compared to the current season and the equivalent at an average productivity of 886 boxes per hectare.

In this scenario, with a supply possibly lower than the industrial need, juice processors must seek to absorb as much of the available fruit as possible. With high industrial demand, supply must be controlled in the domestic fresh fruit market for another year.