A smaller Spanish lemon offer, an early exit by Turkey and a two-week harvesting suspension in Argentina have left the European market eager for new season arrivals from the South American country, according to local representatives.

Rainfall in Argentina at the end of March delayed fruit collection, packing and exports, meaning the first fruit of the 2013 season is now due to arrive in Europe between the end of April and early May.

By that point local stocks should have dried up; boosting demand for fresh supply, one Argentinean citrus exporter told Eurofruit.

“The difference compared with last year is that we’re beginning to see a market with less offer from Spain an early exit by Turkey, which means that Argentina will be the main supplier to Europe,” the supplier told Eurofruit.

The late rainfall could also improve fruit sizes this season, according to the source, which would alter previous expectations of medium to small sizes on account of dry weather in spring and summer.

Argentina’s lemon exports are estimated to rise by 20 per cent against last year when rainfall delayed the season start to May and shortened availability, the exporter said.

Prior to the start of the season All Lemon predicted a top quality crop with a similar export volume to last season of 260,000 tonnes.

A recent USDA report, meanwhile, projects that Argentinean lemon production will rise to 1.45m tonnes in 2013, compared with 1.3m tonnes.

The USDA expects exports to reach 260,000 tonnes, and up to 350,000 tonnes if conditions are stable.

The full report will be published in the May issue of Eurofruit.

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