Orange Oil CP
Citrus sinensis
Harvest: July - December
The 2022-2023 initial orange crop forecast for the São Paulo and West-Southwest Minas Gerais citrus belt, published on May 26, 2022 by Fundecitrus and its partners, is 316.95 million boxes (M. boxes). The projected volume is 20.53% higher than the previous crop, which totalled 262.97 M. boxes.
Total orange production includes:
– 59.48 M. boxes of the Hamlin, Westin and Rubi varieties;
– 17.52 M. boxes of the Valencia Americana, Seleta, Pineapple and BRS Alvorada;
– 93.95 M. boxes of the Pera Rio variety;
– 106.78 M. boxes of the Valencia and Valencia Folha Murcha varieties;
– 39.22 M. boxes of the Natal variety.
Approximately 22.99 M. boxes are expected to be produced in the Triangulo Mineiro.
The prospect of a better crop indicated that groves could recover from adverse weather including the rought and frost that took place in 2020 and 2021 and caused two consecutive small crops, resulting in a discontinued biennial bearing cycle characterized by the yearly alternation of large and small crops.
Owing to better climate conditions, most orange trees in the citrus planted area show good fruit load and heavier oranges than those in the last crops, at the same development stage. This positive scenario as compared to the previous crop season should remain until this crop season ends. For that reason the projected orange weight at harvest is 158 grams, which is 10.5% above the average weight of 143 grams observed last crop season, and the final fruit size is projected at 258 fruits per 40.8 kilogram box.
Average yield this crop season is estimated at 920 boxes per hectare and 1.86 boxes per tree as compared to the 760 boxes per hectare and 1.58 boxes per tree harvested in the 2021-2022 crop. The average number of fruits per tree, without considering the drop that occurs throughout the season, is estimated at 668, which represents an increase of 4.5% in relation to the previous crop.
The projected average drop rate is 20%. The main reason for this projection is the increased incidence of orange trees with citrus greening symptoms. Other reasons include problems with fruit borers, fruit flies, black spot and leprosis.
Citrus greening has been found in 22% of Brazil’s main producing regions, up from 17% four years earlier. The disease is expanding because of lack of crop treatments, weather and rising resistance from growers to cut down infected trees that are still producing.
Because of the increase in the crop size, the number of fruits for processing will increase.
CITRUS BELT ORANGE CROP FORECAST BY VARIETY
Market price : USD 18.00 - 20.00 /kilo