Argentina is expected to achieve similar or slightly higher lemon export volumes this year despite the impacts of rain and frost on production.

Argentina's Citrus Federation (FEDERCITRUS) president Enzo Norberto Rita, told www.freshfruitportal.com between 200,000-240,000 metric tons (MT) of lemons were expected to be shipped this year.

He said so far production was between 900,0000 and 1 million MT and that harvesting had been delayed significantly due to difficult weather at the beginning of the season.

Norberto Rita said the internal quality of the fruit had held up but conditions had lead to a lower ratio of fresh lemons to manufactured ones.

"We are processing about 70-75%, and we have selected 20-25% for export," he said.

Despite the late start he said he did not think the harvest would be extended, predicting it would finish soon.

"What we have done by shortening the period, is that production has been accelerated and we are more or less expecting to export a similar amount, or maybe a little bit more, than we did last year."

With regards to whether he expected lemon prices to be stable, Rita said it would be necessary to see what happens in practice.

"We will have to see how the market will react now that lemons have arrived in bulk. But as the market has been delayed this has allowed us to see how Verna lemons are selling in Spain.

"We have arrived in a market that is quite demanding because the two harvests didn't meet."

www.freshfruitportal.com