Castelló. The Citrus of Castellón They started the 2024-2025 campaign with concern for the low capacity provided by the Ministry of Agriculturewhich reduced the estimate of Clemenules by 23%, and for the blow they received in the previous exercise for the pressure of imports of Egypt. Now, the sector ends its harvest with better results than expected. Thus, the capacity has been superior to the initially planned, while the sales prices have been stable and exports have grown, according to the latest agriculture report and the valuations of the Llauradora and Ava-Asaja Union.
The General Secretario of the Llauradora Union, Carles Perisit emphasizes that the capacity has been higher than the one planned in September and values that no variety has had prices lower than the effective cost of production, “a price stability that always injects an oxygen ball to the producer,” he says. Meanwhile, the director of Av-Asaja Jenaro Aviñóit agrees that the campaign “has been acceptable”, with assumable economic values and lower competition in the European Union of Egypt’s production. In addition, it states that the campaign the Clementines, – variety that frames Clemenules – ended soon and led to an increase in late fruit prices such as the Nadorcott, Orri and Tango. “If there had been more production, it would also have been sold,” he says.
The report of the Ministry of Agriculture notes that the production has been greater than the one announced at the start of the campaign. In the first capacity it showed a demo of 7.3%, while in the second the decrease stood at 4.4%. In Castellónits harvest has been 12% higher than that projected half a year ago, labeled in Clemeneules, which has collected about 50,000 more tons (from 227,600 to 273,399 tons). This figure is even lower than the 2023-2024 campaign but by little. “The September forecast did not take into account the rains of October and November, which improved production,” said Aviñó.
Thus, the citrus growers have avoided the shocks of the previous exercise. The first part of the campaign was short but evolved normally, while in the second phase the Ministry underlines a rebound in citrus demand; “It increased progressively in the markets since the beginning of the second part, staying in April.” From March to April, varieties such as Orri, Navel Powel or Navel Late “with stable prices have been sold in Castellón,” he adds.
14% imports less than Egypt … and Valencian exports rise
This assessment reflects a fall in Imports Citrus of Egypt, which in January 2024 broke into Europe after the closure of the Red Sea and distorted the markets. In this campaign, Egypt has recovered the Asia route, while the quality of its production has diminished, according to Ava-Asaja. The Consell analysis informs that from September to February 2025 imports from Egypt to the old continent decreased 23% compared to the same period of 2023-2024 (77,000 tons compared to 101,000).
For its part, the Exports Citrus of the Valencian Community had a good behavior from September to February, with shipments valued at 1.7 million euros, which represents 1.8% more than in the preceding campaign. By varieties, oranges transactions rose 9.2%, while tangerines decreased 3.4%. For tons, 2.5% of oranges were exported, with 1.4 million.
However, the external pressure is still there, since the arrivals of third countries to the EU have improved 3.6%, standing out again South Africawhich has transported 21,966 tons to Europe more than in 2023-2024, reaching 378,694. The imports of Morocco also increased, up to 109,000, and Türkiye (177,000).
In this regard, the Plowing union He warns that imports “continue to be a problem at certain times, because at the beginning of the South Africa campaign it subtracts quota, and Eigpto does so in January.” In addition, he points out that the price in the transformation industry has been “lower” than usual for sales of productions of Mexico, Egypt and Brazil.
15% waste for pests and future challenges
Despite the good march of the harvest, the general secretary of the Unió, Carles Perisalert of the propagation of pests and the impact of the Climate change. In this line, he estimates that the activity has had a 15% waste commercials due to diseases and low calibers due to the drought of 2024.
Regarding the challenges of the future, it united the advocate for a renewal of the trees and the implementation of, new plantations with better agronomic conditions that allow a higher capacity and an increase in performance.
From Av-Asaja They remember the historical agreement recently achieved the breast of Intercritrus, which includes promotion campaigns to encourage consumption in Europe, as well as research actions to fight against pests.
