A Chilean citrus industry representative has given a positive outlook for the 2018 season, forecasting mandarin and clementine volumes to grow by around 20% year-on-year. 

Chilean Citrus Committee president Juan Enrique Ortúzar said this was due to farms in the north recovering from the drought and new orchards come into production.

"Orange production looks good and there could be a slight increase, while lemons volumes could see a very similar season to last year, which was very good compared to previous years," he said.

He said that good weather conditions and good management should lead to a strong performance in citrus markets.

The clementine harvests have already started, with the first shipments due around mid-April, Ortúzar said.

"They are harvested from April to June, with late mandarins such as W. Murcott being harvested in August and September," Ortúzar said.

He said the lemon harvests will begin soon, with the first shipments leaving at the end of the month, while the orange season should begin in the middle of May.

"There has been a large growth of Fukumoto oranges and other early varieties, and this is where we see the largest increase in volumes," he said.

He expected Chilean orange exports to grow to its main market, the U.S., as well as other destinations like Europe, Japan and South Korea.

Improved U.S. lemon market access

Last week, the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it was changing its regulations to allow Chilean lemon imports via a systems approach, as opposed to methyl bromide fumigation.

Ortúzar said this meant Chilean lemons would arrive in the U.S. in better condition since fumigation caused a break in the cold chain.

"The condition of the lemons will improve a lot as there will be fewer problems with the fruit rotting, including at the end of the season when the fruit is more likely to be damaged and therefore was a higher risk for exporters," he said.

"This is undoubtedly good news for both exporters and the importers, who will enjoy better fruit, and this will help create better direct programs with supermarkets.

He went on to say: "This is something we have waited a long time for...although export volumes may not go up that much, export conditions will improve vastly and the fruit will reach the U.S. in a better state, which will lead to better returns and fewer problems".

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