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Spain’s region of Andalusia is expected to produce 1.7m tonnes of citrus during the 2011/12 campaign, equivalent to a 3.1 per cent increase compared with the previous season, with the provinces of Huelva and Cordoba recording strong volume growth.

According to forecasts from the regional government of Andalusia, the figures confirm Andalusia’s position as the country’s second biggest citrus producing region following Valencia, which is on course to deliver 3.1m tonnes.

In terms of Andalusian provinces, Sevilla remains the largest producer, at a projected 509,263 tonnes, while production in second-placed Huelva is expected to rise by 19 per cent to 460,000 tonnes from the previous season.

Huelva’s volume growth will be centered in oranges, with a 14 per cent increase to 273,630 tonnes forecast for the campaign.

Among the other provinces, a 9.2 per cent production rise was recorded in Cordoba to 259,498 tonnes, while volumes in Almeria dropped by 7.4 per cent to 230,941 tonnes.