While citrus production in Italy during the 2010/11 season is expected to fall by 500,000 tonnes to 3.3m tonnes, a new report published by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has confirmed that the country's citrus exports have continued to rise following a record result last time around.
In the report, the forecast downturn in this season's production was attributed mainly to a recent outbreak of disease, which apparently adversely affected yields and quality.
The forecast anticipated a 20 per cent decline in orange production to 1.9m tonnes, a 10 per cent reduction in lemons to 490,000 tonnes, and no change in the production of easy-peelers.
However, in terms of its citrus exports during 2010/11, the report stated that Italy is set to further increase its shipments to foreign markets to around 380,000 tonnes, following an unprecedented campaign in 2009/10 which saw the country export a total of 341,000 tonnes.
Once again, said the FAS, exports have been driven mainly by increased production of red-fleshed oranges and of clementines.
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