Value of shipments fell by just 0.4 per cent in first five months of 2025/26 season, despite volumes decreasing by almost 6 per cent
Citrus exports from the Valencian Community fell by almost 6 per cent in volume and 0.4 per cent in value between September and January. The figures, from the Ministry of Agriculture, reflect improved prices on the European market, which has helped offset this season’s lower production volume.
Valencia exported €1.381bn of citrus in the first five months of the 2025/26 campaign – 0.4 per cent less than in the same period of last season and 0.1 per cent down on the first five months of the 2023/24 season.
Mandarin shipments totalled 555,476 tonnes, valued at €781.2mn; oranges stood at 386,832 tonnes worth €379.3mn; lemons totalled 124,450 tonnes worth €197.8mn; and grapefruit stood at 20,075 tonnes, equivalent to €22.4mn.
Overall, export volumes from Valencia registered a drop of 5.8 per cent on the year-earlier period, and a 14 per cent decrease on the five-year average. A look at the national data showed a similar picture, with exports down 6 per cent on last season and 14.6 per cent on the five-year average.
Analysts attribute the fall to stronger competition from third countries – particularly in soft citrus – together with adverse weather, pests, ageing plantations and the abandonment of farms.
