Weekly updates on the citrus market
As the European citrus season progresses, producers are increasingly concerned about the impact of lower-priced third-country imports, particularly for oranges. While demand remains strong during the winter season, the influx of cheaper Egyptian citrus is creating market instability and calls for updated import fees. For this week’s citrus market updates, we have collected insights from Wikifarmer and pricing data from the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the French Market News Network.
For blood oranges, Italian Moro and Tarocco remain the primary offerings, complemented by Spanish and Turkish Cara Cara oranges. The first Spanish Sanguinelli have also appeared, while Lempso oranges from Sicily have seen limited demand due to suboptimal pulp coloration. Overall, demand for oranges is positive, but prices have remained largely stable with minimal fluctuations.
In contrast, the relevance of clementines has declined. Spanish clementines remain the primary source, with occasional Italian additions, but inconsistent quality has dampened demand, leading to price reductions. While overall interest remains stable, price increases have been rare.
Spanish lemons continue to meet most of the demand, followed by substantial Turkish shipments. Arrivals from Egypt, Greece, and Morocco are also present. Trading remains steady, with only minor price fluctuations. In Spain’s Alicante province, the lemon harvest is progressing well, with strong prices exceeding €0.40/kg. However, recent frosts are expected to reduce supply, potentially driving prices higher in the coming weeks.
Despite concerns over Egyptian citrus imports driving down European fruit prices, Egyptian mandarin exports have been experiencing weaker-than-expected demand. European and Russian interest has slowed due to competition from Turkey and Morocco. However, with Morocco’s season ending earlier, Egypt hopes to regain momentum in these markets. Still, rising prices—up 20% from last season—pose additional challenges for Egyptian exporters.
The Official Journal of the European Union has published Regulation (EU) 2025/40, which prohibits plastic packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables sold in portions under 1.5 kg, with some exceptions. This measure will take effect on January 1, 2030.
The regulation aims to reduce packaging waste and encourage minimal packaging use. However, FEPEX (the Spanish Federation of Fruit and Vegetable Exporters) warns that it does not fully consider the specific needs of perishable produce, which require suitable packaging for quality, safety, and transportation.
Spain had already introduced similar rules through Royal Decree 1055/2022, which is even more restrictive, banning all packaging—not just plastic—for fruit and vegetables under 1.5 kg, promoting bulk sales. FEPEX suggests aligning Spain’s decree with the new EU regulation and delaying enforcement to 2030.