EU: Lemon And Lime Market 2025

Lemon And Lime Market Size in the EU

The EU lemon and lime market totaled $X in 2022, rising by 5.4% against the previous year. The total consumption indicated resilient growth from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +6.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, consumption decreased by -3.6% against 2020 indices. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Lemon And Lime Production in the EU

In value terms, lemon and lime production expanded markedly to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. The total production indicated a buoyant expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +8.0% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, production decreased by -7.5% against 2020 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 43% against the previous year. As a result, production reached the peak level of $X. From 2021 to 2022, production growth remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Spain (X tons) constituted the country with the largest volume of lemon and lime production, comprising approx. 64% of total volume. Moreover, lemon and lime production in Spain exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Italy (X tons), twofold. Greece (X tons) ranked third in terms of total production with a 5.2% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of volume in Spain amounted to +4.5%. The remaining producing countries recorded the following average annual rates of production growth: Italy (+3.1% per year) and Greece (+1.1% per year).

The average lemon and lime yield expanded modestly to X tons per ha in 2022, picking up by 3.3% compared with the year before. The yield figure increased at an average annual rate of +3.2% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 with an increase of 44%. As a result, the yield attained the peak level of X tons per ha. From 2015 to 2022, the growth of the lemon and lime yield remained at a lower figure. Despite the increased use of modern agricultural techniques and methods, future yield figures may still be impacted by adverse weather conditions.

In 2022, approx. X ha of lemons and limes were harvested in the European Union; shrinking by -1.6% against 2021. Over the period under review, the harvested area, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the harvested area increased by 5.9%. Over the period under review, the harvested area dedicated to lemon and lime production reached the maximum at X ha in 2021, and then fell slightly in the following year.

Lemon And Lime Exports

Exports in the EU

In 2022, overseas shipments of lemons and limes decreased by -9.2% to X tons, falling for the second consecutive year after two years of growth. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.6% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when exports increased by 15%. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, lemon and lime exports fell to $X in 2022. Total exports indicated a strong increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports decreased by -14.0% against 2020 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 32%. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $X. From 2021 to 2022, the growth of the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

Spain was the main exporting country with an export of around X tons, which resulted at 60% of total exports. The Netherlands (X tons) took a 19% share (based on physical terms) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by Portugal (6%). The following exporters - Italy (X tons), France (X tons), Germany (X tons) and Bulgaria (X tons) - together made up 9.8% of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, average annual rates of growth with regard to lemon and lime exports from Spain stood at +1.3%. At the same time, Portugal (+30.5%), Bulgaria (+20.9%), France (+6.6%), the Netherlands (+4.8%) and Italy (+1.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Portugal emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +30.5% from 2012-2022. Germany experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. From 2012 to 2022, the share of Portugal and the Netherlands increased by +5.5 and +3.7 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Spain ($X) remains the largest lemon and lime supplier in the European Union, comprising 57% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by the Netherlands ($X), with a 23% share of total exports. It was followed by Italy, with a 5% share.

In Spain, lemon and lime exports increased at an average annual rate of +5.4% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: the Netherlands (+6.3% per year) and Italy (+5.8% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the export price in the European Union amounted to $X per ton, approximately reflecting the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +3.1%. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2016 when the export price increased by 28% against the previous year. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per ton. From 2017 to 2022, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was France ($X per ton), while Bulgaria ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Italy (+4.3%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Lemon And Lime Imports

Imports in the EU

In 2022, the amount of lemons and limes imported in the European Union fell modestly to X tons, reducing by -3.8% on 2021. Total imports indicated a noticeable increase from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports decreased by -4.1% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 when imports increased by 14% against the previous year. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, lemon and lime imports contracted slightly to $X in 2022. Total imports indicated a buoyant increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.2% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports decreased by -9.7% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when imports increased by 33%. Over the period under review, imports reached the peak figure at $X in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, imports remained at a lower figure.

Imports by Country

In 2022, the Netherlands (X tons), Germany (X tons), France (X tons), Poland (X tons) and Italy (X tons) represented the main importer of lemons and limes in the European Union, generating 64% of total import. It was distantly followed by Spain (X tons), creating a 5.1% share of total imports. Romania (X tons), Portugal (X tons), Bulgaria (X tons), the Czech Republic (X tons), Austria (X tons), Belgium (X tons) and Sweden (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Portugal (with a CAGR of +18.3%), while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Germany ($X), the Netherlands ($X) and France ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, with a combined 51% share of total imports. Poland, Italy, Spain, Romania, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Bulgaria lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 39%.

Among the main importing countries, Portugal, with a CAGR of +18.6%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in the European Union stood at $X per ton in 2022, approximately reflecting the previous year. Over the period from 2012 to 2022, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.4%. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 when the import price increased by 25% against the previous year. As a result, import price attained the peak level of $X per ton. From 2017 to 2022, the import prices remained at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Germany ($X per ton), while Bulgaria ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Austria (+4.2%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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