Pests and drought in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas have led to an expected reduction of 200,000 metric tons (MT) for the 2011-12 citrus crop, website Enlineadirecta.info reported.

Mexican Citrus Council president Ausencia Mata Medina, told the website the reduction would be seen in several citrus fruits including lemons and oranges, due mainly to the shortage of rainfall.

"We are presenting a serious project to increase the number of trees per hectare to minimize the damage count," she was quoted as saying.

Medina said the orange price was well below what should be paid, while the state badly needed rain if the industry were to recover, the story reported.

"It's a very variable price, depending on the quality of the fruit. It's not the price that was expected because there are a lot of oranges," she was quoted as saying.

www.freshfruitportal.com