China: Citrus Annual
Overall marketing year (MY) 2018/19 citrus production in China is forecast to continue to increase, although much of this growth will be for mandarins and tangerines. The expansion of citrus production in China is being driven by increased area in western regions such as Guangxi and Sichuan provinces. Because of the rapid expansion in citrus planted area, industry contacts expect strong growth in production for the next few years as planted trees come into production. Orange production in MY 2018/19, however, is expected to be down slightly as a result of a smaller crop in the traditional Jiangxi province growing areas. Chinese orange imports are expected to be robust due to the rising demand for counter-seasonal fruits, as well as premium high-quality fruits, by middle-class Chinese consumers.
