Citrus fruit market in Portugal

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, the Portuguese citrus fruit market volume grew from 827 thousand tons to 919 thousand tons. This expansion was supported by a sustained increase in consumer demand for healthy and organic fresh produce, reflecting a broader shift in eating habits. The market continued to benefit from these trends in 2020, alongside growing attention to sustainability and food waste reduction. By 2021, the fruit sector's maturation and Portugal's deeper integration into global supply networks further strengthened production and market presence.

Market volume then declined to 895 thousand tons in 2022 and 734 thousand tons in 2023. This sharp contraction was directly caused by severe climatic challenges, including drought and frost, which damaged harvests and reduced available supply. Concurrently, rising production costs, particularly for energy, pressured the sector. Despite the volume drop, export value reached record highs as the industry successfully emphasized the quality and origin of Portuguese citrus.

Production citrus fruit in Portugal

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Top producers of citrus fruit, 2018-2021

World map of production of citrus fruit, 2018-2021

Portugal's citrus fruit production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2021, the country produced 869.5 thousand tonnes, showing a modest increase of 2.8% compared to 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, production rose by 9%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, K t

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

In 2021, the value of citrus fruit production in Portugal reached 782.1 million US dollars, representing a slight decline of 4.6% from the previous year. Looking at the 2018-2021 period, production value increased by 6.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 681.7 million US dollars, while the highest was in 2020 at 819.5 million US dollars. The most significant decrease occurred in 2019 at 6.8%, and the largest increase was in 2020 at 20.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Portugal in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Exports citrus fruit from Portugal

Exports in kind, K t

In 2021, Portugal exported 187.6 thousand tonnes of citrus fruit, marking a decrease of 12.6% compared to the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports fell by 5.8%, with an average annual decline of 2.0%. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 158.3 thousand tonnes, and the highest was in 2020 at 214.7 thousand tonnes. The largest drop occurred in 2019 at 20.5%, while the biggest increase was in 2020 at 35.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, K t

From 2018 to 2021, Spain and France were the dominant destinations for Portugal's citrus fruit exports in volume terms, together accounting for 87.0% of total flows. Other countries contributed smaller individual shares.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2021, Portugal's citrus fruit export value stood at 168.7 million US dollars, down by 18.9% from the prior year. Over the 2018-2021 period, exports decreased by 7.6%, with an average annual decline of 2.6%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 130.9 million US dollars, and the maximum was in 2020 at 208.0 million US dollars. The most significant decline was in 2019 at 28.3%, while the largest increase occurred in 2020 at 58.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Between 2018 and 2021, Spain and France together accounted for 85.3% of Portugal's citrus fruit export value. Other countries formed a more diversified but less significant portion of the total.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021

Imports citrus fruit to Portugal

Imports in kind, K t

In 2021, Portugal imported 237.0 thousand tonnes of citrus fruit, a slight decrease of 0.7% from the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports increased by 3.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.3%. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 189.1 thousand tonnes, and the highest was in 2020 at 238.8 thousand tonnes. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 17.2%, while the biggest increase was in 2020 at 26.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Throughout 2018-2021, South Africa and Spain dominated Portugal's citrus fruit imports in volume terms, jointly representing 88.0% of total flows. Other countries held much smaller shares.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2021, Portugal's citrus fruit import value was 196.9 million US dollars, down by 9.3% compared to 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, imports increased by 6.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.1%. The minimum value was in 2019 at 139.7 million US dollars, and the maximum was in 2020 at 217.1 million US dollars. The most significant decrease occurred in 2019 at 24.5%, while the largest increase was in 2020 at 55.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

From 2018 to 2021, South Africa and Spain were the dominant sources for Portugal's citrus fruit imports in value terms, together accounting for 85.0% of total flows. The remaining share was distributed among other markets.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021