mixed citrus

Citrus production in Uruguay is estimated to increase by 18 per cent (or 48,000 tonnes) in 2012, up from 270,372 tonnes last year.

The crop, comprising, oranges, mandarins, lemons and grapefruit, will reach some 318,780 tonnes, according to figures released by the Agricultural Statistics Department (DIEA) of the Uruguayan Ministry of Agriculture (MGAP).

Within the category, production of all citrus types is expected to increase, except grapefruit whose volume is tipped to fall by 31 per cent to 2,481 tonnes.

Oranges, meanwhile, are projected to rise by 16 per cent to 156,237 tonnes, mandarins by 29 per cent to 120,097 tonnes and lemons by 5 per cent to 39,965 tonnes, the report said.

DIEA said the expectations for this year’s Uruguayan citrus season are similar to results recorded during the 2010 campaign.