Citrus committee pegs this year’s export crop at 530,000 tonnes, with lemons and oranges leading growth
The Chilean Citrus Committee has released its first official forecast for the 2026 citrus export season, putting total shipments at 530,000 tonnes, a 6 per cent increase on last year.
This marks the fifth consecutive year of growth, consolidating the upward trend the industry has maintained since 2022.
The committee’s president, Monserrat Valenzuela, said the figures “reflect the sector’s ongoing effort to maintain competitiveness and meet the demands of international markets”.
But she acknowledged that 2026 would be a season of significant challenges, both commercial and logistical. She highlighted the tariffs imposed by the US, which takes around 80 per cent of Chile’s citrus exports.
By variety, lemon exports are projected to grow 14 per cent to 131,000 tonnes, up from 115,050 tonnes in 2025. Orange shipments are pegged at 134,000 tonnes, an increase of 10 per cent on last year.
Clementines are expected to show moderate growth, with a projected shipment volume of 75,000 tonnes, up 5 per cent on last year’s 71,550 tonnes. Mandarin exports, meanwhile, will remain stable at round 190,910 tonnes.
