Spain set for big rise in Fino lemon production

Spain is anticipating a significant increase in production of Fino lemons for the forthcoming season, reaching levels last seen during the 2020/21 campaign. Releasing its preliminary forecast for 2023/24, Ailimpo said this would give a total volume of 990,000 tonnes.

“This represents a significant increase of 30 per cent compared to the production of this same variety in the 2022/23 campaign, and a return to the levels reached in the 2020/21 campaign, during which Fino lemon production reached 980,000 tonnes,” the lemon and grapefruit interprofessional said.

Ailimpo reported that the abundant rainfall that occurred last May had been “generally positive” for the development of the crop, but sporadic hailstorms are believed to have could have affected some 1,000ha of production across different parts of the Murcia region.

The interprofessional said the current estimate is subject to the evolution of weather conditions, water availability and the impact on the harvest volume of the entry into production of the new plantations.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Spain’s Fino lemon acreage has risen by 5,671ha in the last six years to 31,280ha.

Spain is the world’s leading exporter of fresh lemons and the second biggest exporter of lemon juice, essential oil and dehydrated peel.

Ailimpo will release its next forecast on 28 September and a final estimate of the Fino campaign on 25 January, 2024.