Spain’s Lemon and Grapefruit Interprofessional Association (Ailimpo) has announced an updated lemon forecast for the 2017-18 season of 1,115,000 metric tons (MT). 

This figure is 3.7% lower than the production figure for the previous season that ended on August 31 with 1,157,800MT, but above the initial July estimate of 1,080,000MT.

Fino lemon volumes are expected to increase 12% to 907,000MT due to new plantings entering into production.

The Verna variety, however, has an estimated decrease of 40% due to high temperatures that affected flowering in May and June, with an expected production of 208,000MT. 

"Nevertheless, there has been significant flowering in September in late-blossoming crops, and the volume available for harvest in the summer months will be quantified in Ailimpo’s next forecast report," the group said.

The Fino lemon season started in the last week of September with harvest and export activity to develop gradually during October. 

Weather-related issues may result in limited availability of commercial size lemon during the start of the season, Ailimpo said.

With these figures for the 2017-18 season, the association said Spain would continue to strengthen its commercial position in the EU with a market share of over 80%.

"The overall figure of lemon production in Spain of over one million tonnes will allow the sector to continue reinforcing its export volume to EU markets this season," it said.

"It will also allow for satisfying growing demand from the domestic market and reintroducing exports to overseas markets outside of the EU, such as the Middle East, Canada, and Brazil, increasing the diversification of markets started by the export sector years ago.

"Moreover, this harvest volume may allow for normal activity in the processing of lemon, in which Spain ranks 2nd in the world, and which plays a key role in regulating supply and market balance."

It added some of the essential elements of this season would be the fulfillment of field notebooks by growers, accreditation by the GlobalGAP and GRASP certificates, the involvement of the sector in sustainability programmes and the use of standardized contracts from the Ministry of Agriculture.

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