Argentine exporters are confident their oranges will be snapped up by Brazilian consumers in 2012, website Lacalle-online.com reported.

Northwest Argentina Citrus Exports Chamber executive director Mariano Caprarulo, said he expected the market to be a good one.

"At first, demand will be small but once they see the quality and health of our produce it will increase," he was quoted as saying.

He said he had already signed the plant protection agents' protocol and that Brazilian authorities were currently putting the finishing touches on rules allowing Argentine orange imports.

"We know that next season we can start sending tangerines because everything is approved," he was quoted as saying.

One of the benefits of exporting to Brazil would be that oranges could be transported by land saving export costs, he explained.

He also stressed the importance of the U.S. where he was looking to finalize sales agreements, adding that despite the recession prices per box fetched twice that of Europe.

www.freshfruitportal.com