Based on data provided by producing regions, the forecast indicates production will be 655,000 tonnes lower than last season (-10.7%) and 14.2% below the average of the last five campaigns.
The decline is mainly attributed to excessive spring rains, high temperatures during critical fruit development stages, and hail episodes in several production areas.
While oranges, small citrus and lemons are expected to see sharp declines, grapefruit production is projected to reach a record level.
Breakdown by category
Orange production is estimated at 2.72 million tonnes, down 11.6% (-356,300 tonnes) compared with last season and 14.4% (-459,900 tonnes) below the average. Oranges represent 50.1% of the total crop, with 71% of them belonging to the navel group.
Small citrus is forecast at 1.73 million tonnes, 8.2% (-154,100 tonnes) less than last year and 14.1% (-283,700 tonnes) below the average. This group accounts for 31.9% of the total. Within the category, satsumas represent 5.4%, clementines 52.2%, and the remainder (mandarins and hybrids) 42.3%.
Lemon production is projected at 866,654 tonnes, down 14.7% (-149,400 tonnes) on the previous season and 17.3% (-180,800 tonnes) below the average. Of this total, 77.3% corresponds to the fino variety and 22.1% to verna.
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Grapefruit production, however, is forecast at 107,902 tonnes —8% (+8,000 tonnes) higher than last season, which was already a record. This represents a 26.4% increase (+22,570 tonnes) over the average, marking a third consecutive record campaign.
Foreign trade: €3.6 billion per season
Spain remains the leading citrus producer in the European Union and the sixth largest worldwide. Between the 2019/20 and 2023/24 campaigns, Spain exported an average of 3.5 million tonnes per season, with an annual value close to €3.6 billion.
The country also leads global fresh citrus trade, accounting for nearly 25% of worldwide exports. More than half of Spain’s production (55%) is destined for foreign markets —a share exceeding 60% in small citrus and lemons, and approaching 85% in grapefruit.
Pests: the greatest threat
One of the sector’s main concerns is the rising risk of introducing exotic pests and pathogens into European citrus groves. This risk is growing due to globalised trade, market liberalisation and the increasing impact of climate change on plant health.
The Ministry also presented key elements of the proposed reform of the CAP relating to the citrus sector, which maintains the legislative framework applied to date. Discussions addressed the main pests and diseases that remain difficult to control, along with exceptional authorisations of active substances used in citrus during the past and current campaigns.
Under the new CAP framework, sectoral interventions will be mandatory for sectors with recognised Producer Organisations (POs), such as citrus. The Fruit and Vegetable Sectoral Intervention (ISFH) will be integrated into the National and Regional Partnership Plan, ensuring continued support for the sector through operational programmes for production marketed via POs.
