Orange production will drop by 7 percent this year due to lower yields among the four major growers, Brazil, China, the United States and the European Union, which account for two-thirds of world output, says the USDA. The semi-annual Citrus: World Markets and Trade report put production at 48.4 million tonnes vs the January estimate of 48.8 million tonnes. Some 52.2 million tonnes of oranges were harvested worldwide last year.
Dry weather will cut Brazil’s harvest by 10 percent, to 16 million tonnes, said the USDA. China’s crop and the U.S. crop were both forecast down by 9 percent. “Over the last several years in Florida, citrus greening [disease] has lowered yields and area remains at reduced levels,” said the USDA. With smaller orange crops and steady demand for oranges for “fresh” consumption, orange juice production would drop by 19 percent from last year’s level.