EU citrus sector hit by disease interceptions and weak Valencia harvest

The European Union’s TRACES platform recorded a total of 15 interceptions of black spot disease (Phyllosticta citricarpa) in citrus shipments from South Africa this year, with seven detections reported in July. The Asociación Valenciana de Agricultores (AVA‑ASAJA) criticised the European Commission for allowing imports from a “non‑compliant” source and called for stricter border controls. The same monitoring system also flagged phytosanitary breaches in Mercosur countries, noting eight interceptions in Argentine lemons and oranges, seven detections of bacterial canker in Brazilian limes, and additional cases in Uruguay, Mexico, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the Valencian citrus growers’ union, La Unió Llauradora, forecasted the 2026‑2027 harvest at 2.59 million tonnes – a 3.4 % rise over the previous year but the second‑lowest output in two decades. The estimate reflects a loss of 2,762 ha of orchards in 2025, with oranges expected at 1.28 million tonnes, clementines and hybrids at about one million tonnes, and lemons rising 15 % to 240,408 tonnes. The reduced supply is expected to push prices higher and heighten concerns over the sector’s profitability.