Exportations of orange juice drop in the 2016/17 crop

Brazilian shipments of frozen concentrate orange juice (FCOJ) equivalent dropped 15 % in the 2016/17 crop (between July/16 and February/17), compared to the same period last season. Brazilian agents already expected this decrease, based on perspectives for empty inventories at the end of the 2016/17 season and on the low production observed during the crop.

This season, exportations of FCOJ equivalent have totaled 652.34 thousand tons, according to data from Secex (Foreign Trade Secretariat). Revenue is 1.17 billion USD, 5 % down compared to the same period last crop, while in Real that total is 3.8 billion BRL, 18 % down in the same comparison.

Despite the decrease, the Brazilian shipments of orange juice to the United States have been rising, considering estimates for low supply in Florida. According to the USDA, the last harvesting estimates for Florida, released in mid-March, point to 67 million boxes.

From July/16 to February/17, the Brazilian exportations of FCOJ equivalent to the United States totaled 129.7 thousand tons, 1 % up compared to the same period last season (2015/16). Revenue totaled 244.96 million USD, 23 % up. In Real, the total is 793.66 million BRL, 6 % higher in the same comparison.

Exportations to the European Union, however, dropped again, still the EU continues as the largest purchaser of the Brazilian juice. From July/16 to February/17, shipments to the EU totaled 411.09 thousand tons of FCOJ equivalent, 23 % down compared to the same period last season. Revenue totaled 743.09 million USD, 14 % down in the same comparison. In Real, the total was 3.25 billion BRL, 26 % down.

Sales of not-from-concentrate (NFC) juice have increased this season as well, compared to the same period in 2015/16. While shipments of FCOJ to all destinations dropped 23 %, shipments of NFC juice increased 21 % in the same comparison. Even so, the share of FCOJ exportations is the highest in the Brazilian exportations of juice.