The value of citrus exports recorded, during the period from October 1, 2022 to April 3, 2023, a drop of 8.7% compared to the same period of the past season, to reach 25.4 million dinars, according to a note published Thursday, April 6 by the National Observatory of Agriculture (Onagri).
In terms of quantity, exports also fell by 34% compared to the same period last season, to stand at 7,604 tons. This drop is due to a 16% drop in the harvest compared to the previous year.
On the other hand, the decrease in export earnings is explained by the increase in citrus selling prices recorded following the increase in the cost of production. This, in turn, has led to higher Tunisian citrus prices compared to those of competing countries.
Consequently, Tunisia lost market share in Europe, particularly in Switzerland.
France remains the main importer of Maltese oranges
Based on the statistics of the Interprofessional Fruit Group (GIFruits), Onagri indicates that France remains the main importer of Tunisian Maltese oranges, insofar as 94% of exports are intended for the French market.
In second position is Libya, which particularly imports the “Thompson” variety. In 2023, Libya imported 209 tons of citrus fruits, a decrease of 77.4% compared to last year. This regression was reflected in export earnings to reach 1.6 million dinars against 5.7 million dinars in 2022.
In addition, Onagri reports an increase in export earnings to the Kuwaiti and Qatari markets of 31% and 34% respectively compared to the past season.
