The Spanish citrus export trade has gotten off to a slow start this year as unseasonably high temperatures have caused delays in fruit coloration.
It is currently 10 degrees hotter than would be considered average for Spain in October.
With night temperatures of 20ºC in the Mediterranean coast, when they should ideally not be higher than 10 to 12ºC, the heat is consequently delaying the ripening of the main citrus varieties
Pepe Vercher of Bollo International Fruits told fruitnet.com that harvesting was running about 10 days later than usual. Fruit quality is reported to be good, although lower-than-average rainfall in recent months means that sizes are somewhat smaller this year.
Prices on European markets are reported to be firm, with the onset of cooler temperatures expected to boost demand in the coming weeks. This year, exporters are turning their focus increasingly to markets outside the EU such as Russia and the Middle East where demand continues to grow.
