Peruvian citrus exports increase by 16% in 2025

From the start of the 2025 campaign to week 33 (August 16), Peruvian citrus exports (mandarin, orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit) reached 251,053 tons, representing a 16 percent increase compared to the same period last season, according to Agraria, quoting Sergio del Castillo Valderrama, general manager of the Association of Citrus Producers of Peru (ProCitrus).

In the citrus export breakdown during the period analyzed, mandarins accounted for 183,448 tons, representing a 10 percent increase and representing 73 percent of the total. In the case of Tahiti limes, 36,349 tons were shipped (up 28 percent); oranges, 14,572 tons (up 69 percent); minnoeola tangelo, 9,604 tons (up 29 percent); Eureka lemon, 6,957 tons (up 143 percent); grapefruit, 123 tons (down 94 percent); and Subtle lime (down 20 percent).

In the case of mandarins (the main citrus fruit exported by Peru), early varieties (Satsuma, Primosol, and Nova) have already closed, while the late varieties (most notably the W. Murcott) are still in season.

“We still don’t know if mandarin production will maintain this 10 percent growth (recorded through week 33),” del Castillo said. “It all depends on how shipments of late-season varieties turn out. However, it could drop slightly, and by the end of the campaign, there could be an 8 or 9 percent increase in mandarin production.”

He also said that in 2024, the mandarin campaign was extended until the end of September due to the availability of later-season fruit. However, this will not be the case this year, so the current campaign is expected to end in the second week of September (September 15).

Satsuma mandarin exports increased by 88 percent: Primosols by 200 percent, and Nova by 117 percent. In the case of mid-season varieties such as clementines, sales fell by 5 percent (from 11,574 tons to 10,965 tons), while late-season varieties such as W. Murcott fell by 18 percent, Malvaceo by 56 percent, while Tango grew by 17 percent, and Orri by 3 percent.

Regarding destination markets, the ProCitrus representative noted that at the close of week 33, the United States purchased 108,000 tons of citrus from Peru, remaining the leader. However, it showed a 5 percent drop in volume.

“The United States was the only market where shipments decreased,” del Castillo said. “This contraction is due to the 10 percent tariff imposed by that country, which has caused companies to seek new destinations.”

In this regard, he noted that more fruit has been shipped to other markets. Shipments to Europe grew 48 percent; Central America, 55 percent; Mexico, 33 percent; the United Kingdom, 13 percent; Canada, 40 percent; South America, 38 percent; Asia, 65 percent; Russia, 10 percent.

Up to the week analyzed this year, the United States accounted for 43 percent of all Peruvian citrus, while in the same period of the 2024 campaign it accounted for 53 percent of the total.

In the case of Europe, its share increased from 14 percent to 18 percent; Central America increased from 7 percent to 9 percent, Mexico increased from 7 percent to 8 percent, the United Kingdom remained at 8 percent, Canada increased from 4 percent to 5 percent, South America remained at 4 percent, Asia increased from 2 percent to 3 percent, and Russia held steady at 1 percent.

The start of the current campaign, his company projected a 10 percent increase in the volume of citrus exports compared to the 304,447 tons shipped in the 2024 campaign (for more than $350 million); however, an adjustment was later made, and a 13 percent growth was estimated.

“Up to week 33, the volume of citrus exported by Peru is up 16 percent; however, by the close of the 2025 campaign, growth of between 14 percent and 15 percent will be recorded, due to lower shipments of late-season mandarins,” del Castillo said.

In the case of grapefruit (Star Ruby), a late season is expected. By this time in 2024, 2,000 tons had already been shipped, and only 120 tons have been shipped this season, reflecting a 94 percent decline.