MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil orange juice 2019/20 harvest exports increased 18% in volume and 6% in value

It is estimated that US retail consumption increased by 10% in 2020 (most of it in March), but on the other hand the foodservice sector was devastated

Total Brazilian orange juice exports (FCOJ Equivalent to 66º Brix) registered an 18% increase in the first nine months of the 2019/20 harvest compared to the same period in the previous harvest. A total of 861,700 tons were shipped during the period, compared to 732,048 tons during the same period of the 2018/19 harvest. Revenues increased 6% to a total of US$1.445 billion compared to US$1.369 billion in the previous harvest.

The 2018/19 harvest, which the current harvest is being compared to, ended with the second-worst export volume since it started exporting over 1 million tons in the 1991/92 harvest. “When we look at the volume exported in the period, it is equivalent to the performance of two years ago (2017/18 crop), which was a good year but still below the best rates observed between the 2003/04 and 2006/07 harvests,” explains the executive director of CitrusBR, Ibiapaba Netto.

According to Netto, there was a big rush to buy orange juice in the second week of March. “Part of the increase in sales must be attributed to the demand for vitamin C and part of the increase is due to people stocking more food at home,” says the executive, who comments that it is not possible to know how much each reason contributed to the increase at this time.

On the one hand, it is estimated that American retail consumption increased by 10% in 2020 (most of it in March), on the other hand the foodservice sector was devastated. “The foodservice sector is very relevant, especially in the United States, and this drop cancels out part of the gains that occurred in retail,” he explains. “We will carefully follow the data and reports in the coming weeks,” he said.

Shipments to the European Union, its main destination, totaled 597,242 tons, between July 2019 and March 2020 – 26% above the 472,449 tons exported in the previous harvest. Revenues totaled US$1.011 billion, 14% more than in 2018/2019, when US$886.812 million was exported.

The second main destination for Brazilian orange juice is the United States, which during this period imported 138,800 tons, 16% less than between July and March last year. In sales, shipments to the United States totaled US$224.7 million, a reduction of 11% in comparison with the previous harvest, when revenues were at US$295.5 million. “The reduction in shipments is still a reflection of the increase in juice stocks reported in the United States, which are at the highest levels in the last five years,” informed the executive.

Shipments of orange juice to Japan also increased between July and March 2020, compared to the same period last year. This season, 48,944 tons have already been exported to the country, 38% more than in the eight months of the 2018/2019 crop. Revenue grew 28% to US$87.07 million.

China recorded a 46% increase in imports of Brazilian orange juice in the period, reaching a volume of 35,991 tons compared to 24,601 in the previous harvest. By revenue, the increase is 1% in the first eight months to US$50.6 million, compared with US$50.2 million in the previous period. “One explanation for this may be the devaluation in the price of the juice over this period compared to the previous period, as the Chinese market is very susceptible to price and an increase in this situation makes sense,” he says.