Lemons and limes market in Venezuela

Earlier Report Observations

The Venezuelan lemons and limes market volume grew consistently from 76 597 t in 2018 to 92 855 t in 2023, marking an overall increase of 21%. This growth was underpinned by rising domestic production, which expanded from 76 975 t to 92 954 t over the same period.

Market expansion accelerated after 2021, with volume jumping from 83 058 t to 88 565 t in 2022 and then to 92 855 t in 2023. The earlier years saw steadier progress, including a stabilization phase around 83 000 t in 2020 and 2021.

Imports and exports remained minimal throughout, indicating that the market was almost entirely supplied by local production. This self-sufficiency meant that production trends directly shaped market volume movements.

Production lemons and limes in Venezuela

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Venezuela ranked as the 22nd largest producer of lemons and limes globally, placing it among the world's leading producers during this period.

Top producers of lemons and limes, 2017-2020

World map of production of lemons and limes, 2017-2020

In 2020, Venezuela produced 82 914 tonnes of lemons and limes, showing relative stability compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 8%, which translates to an annualized decline of 2.7%. The lowest production volume was recorded in 2018 at 76 975 tonnes, marking the largest decline of 14.6% that year. In contrast, 2019 saw the largest increase in production at 7.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Venezuela in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports lemons and limes from Venezuela

Exports in kind, t

Venezuela's exports of lemons and limes declined for the third consecutive year in 2020, with export volumes totaling 52.0 tonnes. This represented a sharp reduction of 41.3% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 91.4%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -55.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the top buyers of Venezuelan lemons and limes were Bahrain (24.3% of exports in kind), the United States (21.1%), and Spain (21.0%). Together, these three markets accounted for 66.5% of total exports in kind during this period.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values showed irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 69.6 thousand US dollars, then increased to 73.4 thousand US dollars in 2020, marking a moderate gain of 5.5% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 76.2% drop. Overall, from the high in 2017 to the low in 2019, export values varied by 8.8 times.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, Spain, Bahrain, and the United States remained the three largest markets for Venezuelan lemon and lime exports in value terms, collectively accounting for 70.8% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports lemons and limes to Venezuela

Imports in kind, t

After two years of decline, Venezuela's imports of lemons and limes increased in 2020, reaching 1.1 tonnes. This represented a gain of 36.7% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 45.8%, equating to an annualized decline of 18.4%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 0.8 tonnes, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 with a 43.0% drop.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Lebanon (33.6% of imports in kind), El Salvador (27.8%), and Aruba (22.6%) were the main sources of lemons and limes imported into Venezuela, together accounting for 84.1% of total imports in kind.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The import market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the period. Import values peaked in 2019 at 1.4 thousand US dollars, then dropped sharply to 0.0 thousand US dollars in 2020, representing a 97.2% decline compared to the previous year. The largest increase occurred in 2019 with a 396.5% gain. Overall, from the peak in 2019 to the trough in 2020, import values swung by 35 times.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the United Arab Emirates (35.3% of imports in value terms), Lebanon (22.4%), and El Salvador (20.7%) led the structure of lemon and lime imports into Venezuela in value terms, together representing 78.3% of total import flows.

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

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