Export of orange juice from Brazil close crop on the lowest volume since 1991

SAO PAULO-the export of orange juice from Brazil, the largest global exporter, ended the season 2016/17 (July/June) at the lowest level in more than 25 years, with the industry suffering the impact of an increased breakdown of crop, reported on Monday the National Association of exporters of Citrus juices (CitrusBR). The sector registered a fall of 18,6% in orange 16/17 harvest supply, for 245,310,000 boxes. Thus, Brazilian exports of frozen concentrated orange juice equivalent of 66 Brix (FCOJ equivalent) amounted to 894,669 tons in the crop 2016/2017, a decrease of 17% compared to the volume of the 2015/2016 season, according to data from the Bureau of foreign trade (Secex) cited by CitrusBR. It was the worst level since the 1990/91 harvest, when exports totaled about of 802,000 tons. The revenue generated with shipments in season 2016/17 had 7% drop in comparison with the previous harvest, adding 1.621 billion dollars, the lowest value obtained by the industry since 2009/10. This industry has already reached to export more than 2 billion dollars, in its best moments. The foreign exchange result wasn''t too bad compared to the volume because prices medicate the drop in shipments. "The price per tonne was better, but as it was very low volume ... Falls in the history of that lacked "juice, said the Executive Director of CitrusBR, Ibiapaba Netto. The European Union, the largest Brazilian orange juice market with 66,7%, imported in the period 579,556 tons, retracting 23%. In revenue, the fall was 14%, with a total of 1.05 billion dollars. For the United States, the recoil was 13%, closing the period with a total of 172,777 tons. "The good news is that, despite the reduction in volumes, revenues grew 4% and closed at 317,500,000 dollars," said CitrusBR in a statement. For Japan, the volume shipped closed the period with a fall of 9%, adding 40,996 tons. In China the volumes recorded high of 8%, with 29,549 tons. Retraction in total shipments already was expected, said the Association, since the companies associated with the CitrusBR processed a total of 40.8 kilogram boxes 185,500,000, 22% less volume compared with the previous harvest. For next year, the expectation of recovery, since there will be greater supply of Orange. The Orange crop 2017/18 citrícola region of Sao Paulo and southwestern Minas Gerais is expected to reach 364,470,000 40.8 kg boxes, an increase of almost 50% to the weak season, according to the Defense Fund of Citrus (Fundecitrus). In this area, are located the main exporting units of Brazil''s juice.