Chinese Demand Boosts Australian Citrus

Driven by robust demand, Australia now supplies China with more citrus than ever. Chinese orange consumption steadily increased over the past 10 years to over 5.8 million tonnes in 2016. A decade earlier consumption was only about 5.1 million tonnes. Domestic production in China can’t keep up with demand due to issues like citrus greening and poor weather.

Australia exported 45,000 tonnes of citrus to China this year claiming its position as China’s third largest citrus supplier behind only the US and South Africa. Global companies thirsty for juicing oranges put Valencia oranges back in hot demand, with Australian farmers enjoying higher prices. Valencia orange prices soared to $1.29 per kilogram in 2017 from a low of $0.78 per kilogram in 2011. As the Australian citrus industry expands trade with China, Gro Intelligence continues to monitor developments as they unfold.