World Leaders in Orange Exports

As we approach the winter months, of course, the biggest demand is for citrus products. Orange in particular attracts attention as the most demanded winter fruit worldwide. Delicious, juicy, and rich in vitamins, oranges are a type of fruit known on seven continents.

Due to their high vitamin C and antioxidant content, oranges are one of the citrus fruits that people have enjoyed and cultivated since ancient times. The southern Himalayan foothills, eastern Assam, northern Myanmar, and the Yunnan province in western China are the locations of the orange gene center.

In Roman times, the orange was regarded as the world's richest’s fruit. In the gardens of wealthy Roman families, greenhouses were employed to keep oranges from the cold, but with the fall of the Roman Empire, citrus fruits perished along with wealthy households. Oranges to Europe were brought by the Genoese trade between 1400 and 1500 C.E.

The orange is now a fruit that can be grown almost everywhere, with the expansion of trade networks, the development of technology, and the increase in transportation types. Which countries are the leaders in orange production? Which are the leading countries in export besides production?

Leading Countries in Orange Production

According to USDA data, a total of 49 million tons of oranges were produced in the world as of the 2021/22 market year. In addition, around 103 million tons of citrus fruit were produced. 47% of this production belongs to orange.

Oranges were the citrus fruit with the largest demand, even though more and more people were using citrus fruits in other contexts. 

Especially in fruit juice, dried orange peel, and slices, as well as essences, is gaining in value in terms of demand. The presenting forms of orange have also increased as more people choose organic products in the modern world. Brazil is ranked first with a share of 34% of the global orange output in the market year 2022–2023, according to the production shares of the top-producing nations. The EU comes in third with a production of 12%, while China comes in second with a share of 16%. Mexico produces 9% of the total amount of goods produced worldwide. With 1.8 million tons of orange output, Turkey is ranked 7th in the world.

While a very important part of Brazil's orange production consists of industrial varieties, the most common industrial orange variety is the Pera orange. Since China is the homeland of citrus fruits, it has serious production values and cultivates both industrial and table varieties.

Leading Countries in Orange Export

Exports and orange production both matter. 11.5 million tons of citrus fruits were exported globally during the 2021–2022 market year. Orange accounted for 39% of all exports. This year, countries have given close attention to the use of oranges in the local market, especially in light of the political unrest, the lack of precipitation, and the chilly weather. However, some nations have seen an increase in exports. Furthermore, global exports of oranges have climbed by 10% during the last five seasons.

Egypt

While many people know Egypt for its pyramids and tourism, the country is fast becoming an agricultural powerhouse in Africa. Over the years, they continue to invest in increasing their small areas of agriculture. The majority of the world's orange exports, or over 80% of the entire citrus production in 2022, come from Egypt.

In the global orange export, which was 4.5 million tons in the 2021/2022 market year, Egypt takes first place with a share of 32%. Egypt is anticipated to keep this position, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), even if exports have decreased by about 200,000 tons and production has decreased by 1.45 million tons as a result of unfavorable meteorological conditions. However, two of the biggest importers into the nation are Russia and Ukraine.

South Africa

South Africa is in the top three for 2021–2022, with a 28% export share of oranges. Surprisingly, one of the top producers and exporters of oranges is South Africa, a country whose importance to agriculture has grown. Moreover, when examined on a monthly basis, South Africa emerged as the top exporter of oranges to the European Union in October 2022, accounting for 132 455 tons of the 157 821 tons in total imports from all nations.

USA

The USA is among the leading countries in orange exports with a 10% share in the 2021-2022 period. The USA, which gives importance to orange production, especially for fruit juice production, is the leader in orange juice exports.

Turkey

Turkey is among the leading countries in the production and export of oranges. Although it has experienced a decrease in exports compared to production between 2021-2022, it is in eighth place. When evaluated according to orange varieties, Turkey has been a pioneer among the most diverse exporting countries. Looking at the product types; In 2021-2022, it is seen that 68% of orange production belongs to Washington, 28% to others, and 3% to Jaffa orange.

Why is Orange Trade Important in the World?

Oranges are a storehouse of vitamin C, which helps to defend against many ailments. In terms of both health and the value it lends to various culinary dishes, it has a significant place in the globe. In temperate and Mediterranean regions, orange is grown sloping locations that are ideal for cultivating it and can endure low temperatures of zero. 

But the orange tree can perish if the air temperature begins to fall below -9. As a result, it is exceedingly challenging to grow in locations with extremely harsh and cold weather. Additionally, the growth of the orange tree halts in locations where the air temperature exceeds 45 degrees. Orange growth is negatively impacted by snow and ice. It is a fruit that should be taken care of in terms of protection, cultivation, and fruiting. Orange continues to gain value due to its use and diversification in various industries.