Approval would represent a major boost for the country’s citrus industry, says Federcitrus
Argentina is awaiting imminent US approval to import fresh oranges and mandarins according to José Carbonell, president of trade federation Federcitrus.
Speaking to Más Producción, he said negotiations with US phytosanitary authorities are nearing a favourable resolution, opening up a potential market of almost 350mn consumers.
North America has been well-established market for Argentine lemons since 2018 and the addition of oranges and mandarins would be a boon for the industry. Carbonell said there is “well-founded confidence” that the import protocol will be approved, providing greater commercial stability for producers.
Argentina’s citrus production is concentrated mainly in northeast northwest of the country. The bulk of its oranges and mandarins are currently destined for the domestic market or for processing. But as output continues to increase, the sector has ramped up trade negotiations in search of new opportunities.
In recent years, Argentina has lost ground in historically important markets such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Canada. It also faces greater restrictions in the European Union due to sanitary measures related to Black Spot. The opening of the US market therefore presents an opportunity to recover lost ground and balance export destinations.
The Northwest region of Argentina – especially Tucumán – already has a well-established network of packing and cold storage facilities for lemon exports, along with strict traceability systems that allow it to meet increasingly stringent trade requirements.
According to analysis by Federcitrus, a green light from the US would also have positive effects on the processing industry, increasing the availability of byproducts and boosting sectors such as concentrated juices, essential oils, and peels used by the food and cosmetics industries.
