Orange juice market in Uruguay

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for unfermented orange juice in Uruguay increased from 2 664 thousand L in 2018 to 4 161 thousand L in 2023, representing overall growth of 56%. This expansion was particularly pronounced between 2020 and 2021, when the market jumped from 2 811 thousand L to 4 406 thousand L, supported by a sharp rise in domestic production from 2 497 thousand L to 3 608 thousand L.

Market volume stabilized at around 4 436 thousand L in 2022, a year in which Uruguay's role as a significant exporter of frozen orange juice to markets like Mexico helped sustain its production capacity. The following year, however, saw a contraction as the market fell to 4 161 thousand L. This decline was directly linked to hail storms that damaged part of the orange crop, reducing the availability of raw material for juice processing and leading to lower domestic output.

Production orange juice in Uruguay

In kind, 2017-2020, K l

Top producers of orange juice, 2017-2020

World map of production of orange juice, 2017-2020

Uruguay's orange juice production rebounded in 2020 after two years of decline. The country produced 2,497 thousand liters of orange juice that year, marking a 3.2% increase compared to 2019. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 18.8%, which translates to an average annual decline of 6.7%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 2,420 thousand liters, while the sharpest year-on-year drop occurred in 2018 with a 16.8% decrease.

Annual dynamics of production in Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, K l

Exports orange juice from Uruguay

Exports in kind, K l

Uruguay's orange juice exports declined for the third consecutive year in 2020. The country exported 791 thousand liters of orange juice, representing a sharp 25.4% decrease compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 52.6%, averaging an annual decline of 22.0% over this period.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, K l

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands, Spain, and Mexico remained Uruguay's key export partners for orange juice in volume terms. The Netherlands accounted for 66.7% of exports, Spain for 8.7%, and Mexico for 7.1%. Together, these three countries represented 82.6% of Uruguay's total orange juice exports during this period.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Uruguay's orange juice exports in value terms declined for the third consecutive year in 2020. Exports amounted to 1,025 thousand US dollars, showing a modest 9.9% decrease compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, the value of exports dropped by 69.1%, which corresponds to an average annual decline of 32.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands was Uruguay's primary buyer of orange juice in value terms, accounting for 71.0% of total exports. The remaining 29.0% was distributed among a diverse group of other countries.

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

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

Imports orange juice to Uruguay

Imports in kind, K l

Uruguay's orange juice imports declined for the second consecutive year in 2020. The country imported 1,106 thousand liters, down 9.4% year-on-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 8.4%, averaging an annual decline of 2.9%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 1,299 thousand liters, which also saw the largest year-on-year increase of 7.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, K l

During the 2017-2020 period, Argentina and Brazil dominated Uruguay's orange juice imports in volume terms, together accounting for 94.8% of total imports. Other trading partners played a relatively minor role in Uruguay's import market for orange juice.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Uruguay's orange juice imports in value terms declined for the second consecutive year in 2020. Imports reached 1,625 thousand US dollars, reflecting a significant 13.9% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import values fell by 25.4%, with an average annual decline of 9.3%. The peak import value was recorded in 2018 at 2,206 thousand US dollars, which also saw a modest 1.3% increase. The sharpest decline occurred in 2019 with a 14.4% drop.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil and Argentina were Uruguay's dominant suppliers of orange juice in value terms, jointly accounting for 96.7% of total imports. The remaining 3.3% was distributed among smaller markets.

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

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