The French market for oranges has intensified over the last week or so, according to French monthly FLD. Demand from French consumers has been insufficient to absorb the large volumes of oranges currently available.

Despite the disappearance of the last late Valencia varieties from Spain, availability of oranges remains considerable, thanks to the unusually significant presence of South African Navels and French and Argentine late Valencias on the market.

Such a scenario has led to a build-up of late Valencia and Navel stocks and caused the price range of oranges to widen substantially, FLD reported.