Changing the Global Production and Trade of Citrus Fruits

Abstract

In this research paper, the authors investigated the change over 2000–2021 in global citrus fruit production and international trade. There is a considerable number of species cultivated by humans. However, oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes, pomelos, and grapefruit were the most common in terms of gross pickings and their exports and imports. Significant amounts of citrus fruits are grown, including for deliveries abroad, in countries whose territory is located in the subtropical and tropical subequatorial and equatorial climatic belts of the Earth. In 2021, the top ten of this ranking were Brazil, India, China, Mexico, the USA, Spain, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, and Italy. During the considered period, global production of citrus fruits of all types increased 1.53-fold. In 2000, their global gross yields were 105,960 million tons. By 2021, this figure reached 161,801 million tons. The authors found that the global exports and imports of citrus fruits of all types increased by 1.91 times and 1.89 times, respectively, during 2000–2021. In particular, exports increased from 9.709 million tons in 2000 to 18.517 million tons in 2021. The authors found the countries that lead in citrus fruit exports (all types) as of 2021: Spain—19.2% of the global total, South Africa—14.03%, Turkey—10.53%, Egypt—8.62%, China—4.96%, the Netherlands—4.83%, Mexico—4.66%, the USA—3.75%, Morocco—3.22%, and Greece—2.6%. The volume of global imports of citrus fruits increased from 9.565 million tons in 2000 to 18.066 million tons in 2021. The following countries were among the leaders in imports of citrus fruits (all types) as of 2021: Russia—9.41% of the global volume of this indicator, the USA—8.54%, the Netherlands—7.69%, Germany—6.57%, France—5.77%, the UK—3.94%, Saudi Arabia—3.8%, Iraq—2.96%, Poland—2.87%, and Canada—2.76%.