Japan: Citrus Annual
FAS/Tokyo has revised data from marketing year (MY) 2014/15 to incorporate information for new varieties of mandarin/tangerine and acidic citrus similar to lemons that are produced in Japan. The trend of declining citrus acreage in Japan continued in marketing year (MY) 2015/16, decreasing 2 percent to 64,200 hectares. Production decreased 9 percent to approximately 1,100,000 MT in MY 2015/16 - largely due to unfavorable weather conditions during the growing season. Despite FAS/Tokyo expectations that planted area will fall another two percent in MY 2016/17, improved growing conditions have led FAS/Tokyo to forecast an increase in total citrus production in MY 2016 (up 5 percent to 1,157,000 MT given).