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July 1997
Source: U.S. Bureau of Census
Total fresh citrus production is forecast at a record level of 68.1 million metric tons in 1996/97. The amount of citrus processed in selected countries is also forecast to set a record level at 28.9 million metric tons. Fresh citrus exports have remained relatively stable over the last 10 years. The amount of fresh citrus processed in 1996/97 accounts for 42 percent of selected country citrus production. In contrast, the growth in the amount of fresh citrus processed in selected countries (up 46 percent) has exceeded the increase in fresh citrus production (up 35 percent) over the last 10 years, due to expanding world demand for juice products. The sharper expansion in processing reflects expanded orange production in Brazil, where output is dominated by international demand for frozen concentrate orange juice, and in the United States where orange production has more than recovered from freezes in Florida in the 1980s. During the 1980s and 1990s, the shift in consumer patterns toward more health-conscious products, including both fresh citrus and fruit juices, consumer preferences for convenience foods, and rising incomes have contributed to the expansion in both citrus production and processing. Income distribution further influenced the variety and form of juice consumed. For example, in developed countries citrus consumption is mainly in the form of products while in developing countries more citrus is consumed fresh.
For more information, see world Horticultural Trade and U.S. Export Opportunities.
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