Citrus fruit market in Yemen

Earlier Report Observations

Yemen's citrus fruit market volume grew from 291 000 tons in 2018 to a peak of nearly 399 000 tons in 2021, driven by increasing domestic production and a sharp rise in imports. This expansion occurred despite persistent challenges including weak agricultural infrastructure, political instability, and the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains and transport in 2020.

The market reversed course after 2021, contracting to 389 000 tons in 2022 and 382 000 tons in 2023. A primary driver was the decision by Sana'a authorities in 2023 to halt imports of approximately 13 types of agricultural products, which directly reduced supply. This was compounded by the continued depreciation of the Yemeni rial, which raised import and transport costs throughout the period. Concurrently, efforts to revive idle state-owned processing plants, aimed at absorbing local output, provided some context for domestic marketing support from 2022 onward.

Into 2024, the enforcement of import and export bans by rival authorities continued to shape market dynamics, contributing to price increases and availability issues, as seen in import fluctuations.

Production citrus fruit in Yemen

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of citrus fruit, 2017-2020

World map of production of citrus fruit, 2017-2020

Yemen's citrus fruit production increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 332.6 thousand tons of citrus fruit, up 0.6% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 10.4%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 3.4%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 283.6 thousand tons, with the largest decline that year at 5.9%. In contrast, the largest increase occurred in 2019, when production rose by 16.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Yemen in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports citrus fruit from Yemen

Exports in kind, t

Yemen exported 1,127 tons of citrus fruit in 2020, showing no significant change from the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 76.6%, equating to an annualized decline of 38.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Yemen in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of Yemen's citrus fruit exports in kind was dominated by Belarus and Saudi Arabia, which together accounted for 96.6% of total flows, while other markets formed a long tail.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Yemen in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, citrus fruit deliveries from Yemen totaled 627 thousand US dollars, remaining flat compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 82.2%, which corresponds to an annualized decline of 43.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Yemen in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Belarus accounted for 74.3% of Yemen's total citrus fruit exports in value terms, with the remaining flows distributed among a broad group of smaller countries.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Yemen in value, 2017-2020

Imports citrus fruit to Yemen

Imports in kind, t

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. Yemen imported approximately 27,486 tons of citrus fruit in 2020, up by 126.5% compared to the previous year. The lowest import level was recorded in 2018 at 6,835 tons, with the largest decline that year at 9.2%. Imports varied by a factor of 4 from the low in 2018 to the high in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Yemen in kind, 2017-2020, t

Throughout 2017–2020, the three largest markets for Yemen's citrus fruit imports in kind were the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, which together accounted for 91.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Yemen in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. In 2020, citrus fruit imports to Yemen totaled 19,614 thousand US dollars, marking an uptick of 616.4% compared to 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 1,556 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 48.8%. The highest value was registered in 2020, while the lowest occurred in 2018, resulting in a peak-to-trough ratio of 12.6 times.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Yemen in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2017–2020, the United Arab Emirates (52.8% of imports in value terms), Saudi Arabia (27.0% of imports in value terms), and Egypt (10.1% of imports in value terms) together accounted for 89.9% of Yemen's total citrus fruit imports in value terms, remaining the main destinations.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Yemen in value, 2017-2020