Fruit is now the country’s third most exported product, generating thousands of jobs in rural communities
Brazilian limes have established themselves as one of the most important fruits in the country’s export basket as shipments continue to grow year-on-year, according to national fruit association Abrafrutas.
“Limes are now Brazil’s third most exported fruit, behind mangoes and melons, so they are highly relevant,” said Luiz Eduardo Raffaelli, institutional director of Abrafrutas and himself a producer of the fruit.
The main variety exported from Brazil is the Persian or Tahiti lime. Around 70 per cent of the crop is sold domestically and the rest exported, with 85 per cent of this going to the European Union and UK and 15 per cent to South American markets.
“Exports are growing year after year, volumes are growing, and prices remain stable. We’re not seeing an increase in the value of the product, but rather an increase in volume,” Raffaelli said.
He pointed out that the fruit plays an important role in the country’s rural development. “Limes have a very important characteristic: they are produced by small farmers, so it’s a labour-intensive type of agriculture, making it very important within the sector. In the state of São Paulo, Brazil’s leading lime producer, official data shows that 150,000 jobs are directly linked to the lime supply chain,” he said.
However, the sector faces challenges – notably the shortage of labour, climate change and phytosanitary and logistics issues.
To overcome these obstacles, the country is investing in new technologies, new varieties, and new production techniques. “We’ve been working to significantly increase productivity per hectare in Brazilian orchards, in São Paulo, and we’re having success,” Raffaellii said.
“It’s not something that will increase significantly from one year to the next; it’s a medium- to long-term effort. Average yields per hectare are rising steadily. Packing houses are more adapted and becoming more professional. So, overall, the chain has become more professional and has consistently adopted good agricultural practices.”
He said the outlook is optimistic, especially when it comes to the opening of new markets. “This year, we saw the opening of the Indian market to Brazilian limes. We are in negotiations to open the Chinese market. These are new markets, with high growth potential. The sector is very excited about this new expansion, with the Asian frontier, let’s call it that,” Raffaelli noted.
