Imagine a sphere of fruit so vast it could fill over 5.9 million shipping containers, and you’ve pictured the staggering 147.4 million metric tons of citrus the world produced in 2021.
Key Takeaways
- Global citrus production reached 147.4 million metric tons in 2021, with oranges accounting for 75.9 million metric tons.
- China led citrus production with 44.3 million metric tons in 2021, representing 30% of global output.
- Brazil produced 20.1 million metric tons of oranges in 2021/22 season.
- Global orange exports totaled 7.8 million metric tons in 2021.
- Spain was the top orange exporter with 2.3 million metric tons in 2021.
- South Africa exported 2.1 million metric tons of oranges in 2021/22.
- Global per capita citrus consumption averaged 20.5 kg in 2021.
- US per capita fresh orange consumption was 10.2 kg in 2021.
- China's citrus consumption totaled 42.5 million metric tons in 2021.
- Global citrus market revenue reached $85 billion in 2021.
- Florida citrus industry contributes $8.5 billion to state GDP annually.
- Brazilian orange juice export revenue was $2.1 billion in 2021.
- HLB disease caused $4.6 billion losses in Florida since 2005.
- Citrus greening (HLB) affects 90% of Florida groves.
- Global citrus water usage averages 10,000 cubic meters per hectare.
The global citrus industry produces over 147 million tons annually, led by China and Brazil.
Consumption
- Global per capita citrus consumption averaged 20.5 kg in 2021.
- US per capita fresh orange consumption was 10.2 kg in 2021.
- China's citrus consumption totaled 42.5 million metric tons in 2021.
- Brazil per capita mandarin consumption reached 12 kg in 2021.
- EU-27 citrus consumption was 14.2 million metric tons in 2021.
- India's per capita citrus consumption is 4.5 kg annually.
- US juice consumption from oranges averaged 3.8 liters per capita in 2021.
- Global orange juice production used 35 million metric tons of fruit in 2021.
- Florida's citrus consumption linked to 80% processed into juice.
- Japan's per capita mandarin consumption is 25 kg yearly.
- Russia per capita citrus consumption grew to 18 kg in 2021.
- Mexico's domestic citrus consumption is 4.2 million metric tons annually.
- Spain per capita orange consumption is 22 kg per year.
- US grapefruit consumption per capita declined to 1.2 kg in 2021.
- Global processed citrus products consumption rose 3% in 2021.
- China's per capita citrus intake is 30 kg annually.
- Brazil orange juice per capita consumption is 15 liters yearly.
- Germany's fresh citrus consumption per capita is 19 kg.
- UK mandarin consumption peaks at 2.5 kg per capita during holidays.
- Italy's lemon consumption per capita is 12 kg annually.
Consumption Interpretation
The world is clearly divided into those who see an orange as a serious snack to be peeled with intent, like the Spaniards at 22 kilos a year, and those who see it as a mere vessel for juice, exemplified by Florida's 80% processing rate and Brazil's impressive 15-liter annual juice habit.
Economic
- Global citrus market revenue reached $85 billion in 2021.
- Florida citrus industry contributes $8.5 billion to state GDP annually.
- Brazilian orange juice export revenue was $2.1 billion in 2021.
- US citrus industry employs over 100,000 workers directly.
- Spain's citrus sector generates €4.5 billion yearly.
- Global orange juice market valued at $60 billion in 2021.
- China's citrus processing industry worth $20 billion in 2021.
- Florida citrus growers revenue dropped 20% due to HLB in 2022.
- South Africa citrus exports generate R20 billion annually.
- Mexico citrus industry supports 500,000 jobs.
- Average farmgate price for Florida oranges was $18 per box in 2022/23.
- Global wholesale orange price averaged $650 per metric ton in 2021.
- Brazilian FCOJ export price reached $2,200 per ton in 2021.
- US lemon prices averaged $1,200 per ton in 2021/22.
- EU mandarin retail price is €2.5 per kg on average.
- India's citrus farmer income averages ₹50,000 per hectare.
- Turkey lemon export value hit $800 million in 2021.
- Citrus industry R&D investment globally exceeds $1 billion yearly.
- California's citrus revenue totaled $1.2 billion in 2021.
- Global citrus insurance market for growers is $500 million.
- Egypt's citrus exports contribute 10% to agricultural GDP.
Economic Interpretation
We're squeezing out fortunes worth billions globally, proving that citrus is a serious business that can leave a sour taste when disease strikes or a sweet profit when the market zests just right.
Environmental
- HLB disease caused $4.6 billion losses in Florida since 2005.
- Citrus greening (HLB) affects 90% of Florida groves.
- Global citrus water usage averages 10,000 cubic meters per hectare.
- Brazilian orange groves cover 800,000 hectares, with 20% converted from pasture.
- Spain's citrus uses 25% of Andalusia's irrigation water.
- US citrus pesticide use totals 15 million kg annually.
- Mediterranean fruit fly impacts 15% of citrus yields yearly.
- Climate change projected to reduce global citrus production by 10-20% by 2050.
- Florida citrus acreage reduced 75% since HLB arrival.
- Citrus Huanglongbing detected in 50+ countries since 2004.
- Global citrus carbon footprint averages 1.2 kg CO2 per kg fruit.
- Australia's citrus integrated pest management reduces sprays by 50%.
- Mexico's avocado expansion threatens 20,000 ha of citrus land.
- Rainfed citrus yields 30% lower than irrigated globally.
- EU citrus packaging generates 300,000 tons of plastic waste yearly.
- China's citrus fertilizer overuse leads to 40% nutrient runoff.
- Drought reduced California's citrus yield by 15% in 2021.
- Organic citrus represents 5% of global production.
- Citrus industry biodiversity loss from monoculture in 60% of groves.
Environmental Interpretation
The citrus industry is a saga of tenacious farmers fighting a globe-trotting bacterial plague, squabbling with avocados for real estate, guzzling alarming amounts of water and pesticides, and wrestling with climate change—all while trying to cram their fruit into a mountain of plastic packaging that would make Mother Nature weep.
Environmental, source url: https://www.citrus.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Phytosanitary-Report-2021.pdf
- Citrus black spot fungus affects 5-10% of South African exports., category: Environmental
Environmental, source url: https://www.citrus.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Phytosanitary-Report-2021.pdf Interpretation
A single spore on a lemon might seem trivial, until you consider it's ruining one in every ten dreams packed into a crate bound for distant shores.
Production
- Global citrus production reached 147.4 million metric tons in 2021, with oranges accounting for 75.9 million metric tons.
- China led citrus production with 44.3 million metric tons in 2021, representing 30% of global output.
- Brazil produced 20.1 million metric tons of oranges in 2021/22 season.
- United States citrus production totaled 5.8 million metric tons in 2021, mainly from Florida and California.
- India produced 13.8 million metric tons of citrus fruits in 2021, with kinnow and mandarin dominant.
- Spain's citrus production was 6.9 million metric tons in 2021/22, primarily oranges and mandarins.
- Mexico citrus output reached 5.2 million metric tons in 2021, led by oranges.
- Egypt produced 4.1 million metric tons of oranges in 2021.
- Turkey's citrus production stood at 4.5 million metric tons in 2021, with lemons prominent.
- Florida orange production forecast for 2022/23 is 17.9 million boxes (907,000 metric tons).
- California's navel orange production estimated at 47,000 tons for 2022/23 early season.
- Global mandarin production was 28.2 million metric tons in 2021.
- Lemon and lime production worldwide totaled 9.7 million metric tons in 2021.
- Grapefruit production globally was 6.1 million metric tons in 2021.
- Argentina citrus production reached 3.2 million metric tons in 2021.
- South Africa's orange production was 1.6 million metric tons in 2021/22.
- Morocco produced 2.4 million metric tons of citrus in 2021.
- Iran citrus output was 4.9 million metric tons in 2021.
- Vietnam's citrus production totaled 2.1 million metric tons in 2021.
- Greece citrus production was 1.1 million metric tons in 2021.
- Florida grapefruit production forecast at 4.5 million boxes for 2022/23.
- Sicilian lemon production in Italy was 1.2 million metric tons in 2021/22.
- China's pomelo production exceeded 4.5 million metric tons in 2021.
- Brazilian lemon production was 0.9 million metric tons in 2021.
- US lemon production totaled 1.0 million tons in 2021/22.
- Global citrus yield averaged 15.2 metric tons per hectare in 2021.
- Florida's citrus acreage declined to 390,000 acres in 2022.
- Valencia orange harvest in Florida expected to yield 6.3 million boxes in 2022/23.
- Australia's citrus production was 1.1 million metric tons in 2021.
- Peru's mandarin production reached 0.4 million metric tons in 2021.
- Global orange production was 75.9 million metric tons in 2021.
- Mandarin production worldwide hit 28.2 million metric tons in 2021.
- Florida's 2023/24 orange forecast is 12.2 million boxes.
Production Interpretation
While China's staggering 44-million-ton command of the citrus world suggests they’ve zestfully seized the throne, the spirited, smaller groves from Florida to Spain prove that when life gives you statistics, you still have to make the data squeeze.
Trade
- Global orange exports totaled 7.8 million metric tons in 2021.
- Spain was the top orange exporter with 2.3 million metric tons in 2021.
- South Africa exported 2.1 million metric tons of oranges in 2021/22.
- US citrus exports reached 0.8 million metric tons in 2021, mainly to Canada and Mexico.
- Egypt exported 1.4 million metric tons of oranges in 2021.
- Turkey's citrus exports were 1.2 million metric tons in 2021, led by lemons.
- Morocco exported 1.6 million metric tons of citrus in 2021/22.
- China's orange exports totaled 0.3 million metric tons in 2021.
- Brazil exported 1.1 million metric tons of oranges in 2021/22.
- Netherlands re-exported 1.5 million metric tons of citrus in 2021 as EU hub.
- Global mandarin exports were 1.9 million metric tons in 2021.
- Lemon exports worldwide reached 1.8 million metric tons in 2021.
- US grapefruit exports to Japan were 150,000 tons in 2021.
- Spain's mandarin exports hit 1.2 million metric tons in 2021/22.
- Peru exported 0.5 million metric tons of mandarins to China in 2021.
- Mexico's citrus exports to US were 0.6 million metric tons in 2021.
- Argentina exported 0.9 million metric tons of lemons in 2021.
- Greece citrus exports totaled 0.4 million metric tons in 2021.
- Global citrus import value exceeded $12 billion in 2021.
- Germany's citrus imports were 2.1 million metric tons in 2021.
- Russia's orange imports reached 1.3 million metric tons in 2021.
- US imported 1.2 million metric tons of fresh citrus in 2021.
- Netherlands imported 2.8 million metric tons of citrus in 2021.
- China's mandarin imports were 0.4 million metric tons in 2021.
- France citrus imports totaled 1.4 million metric tons in 2021.
- UK orange imports from Spain were 0.7 million metric tons in 2021.
- Japan's grapefruit imports mainly from US totaled 200,000 tons in 2021.
- Canada's citrus imports reached 1.0 million metric tons in 2021.
Trade Interpretation
The global citrus trade is a surprisingly juicy geopolitical affair, with nations like Spain playing king of the orange hill, while the Netherlands cleverly acts as Europe's fragrant, repackaging middleman, proving that in a $12 billion market, there's always a peel—and a deal—to be made.
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