Australia: Citrus Annual

Orange production is expected to decline in Australia in marketing year (MY) 2022/23 to 505,000 metric tons (MT) from an estimated 535,000 MT in MY 2021/22. However, exports are forecast to rise to 180,000 MT from an estimated 145,000 MT in MY 2021/22, due to an anticipated substantial improvement in fruit quality. Tangerine/mandarin production is forecast to reach 190,000 MT in MY 2022/23, a nine percent increase over MY 2020/21, and a record export level of 90,000 MT. After three successive years of La Niña weather conditions, expectations are for typical seasonal conditions in the forecast year. Irrigation storage dams are at or near capacity supporting the citrus crop irrigation program and forecast crop production and beyond with low-cost traded water. The harvest labor shortage is expected to ease somewhat further but remain tight for the forecast year. However, growers will continue to be impacted by high input costs for fertilizer, chemicals, energy and labor experienced in the current MY 2021/22.