Brazil: Murcott Tangor harvesting steps up in SP

The harvesting of murcott tangor, which started at a slow pace in the second fortnight of June, is now stepping up in São Paulo State. According to Cepea collaborators, despite the good quality of the fruits, sales in July were below the expected, due to the colder weather in southeastern Brazil as well as the competition with ponkan tangerine – whose prices are usually lower.

However, the demand for murcott tangor increased in late July, surpassing that for other citrus varieties. Besides, most growers from SP have already ended the ponkan harvesting – there is only some volume available in the in natura market, from orchards from Minas Gerais State. This scenario, in turn, should boost the demand for murcott even more.

Despite higher supply in São Paulo, the fast sales pace for murcott tangor favored prices last month. Between July 1 and 31, quotes averaged 34.88 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, on tree, 5.9 % up compared to the average in June.

PERSPECTIVES – Agents believe that the murcott harvesting should last until December, with the crop peak between October and November. The size of the fruits harvested so far is between small and medium, according to growers – due to the higher number of fruits on tree, which hampers growth.

PEAR ORANGE MARKET – Concerning pear oranges, the faster crushing pace helped to control supply in the in natura market. According to Cepea collaborators, this scenario should continue until the beginning of the harvesting for late oranges (mainly valência and natal), forecast to late August/early September.

Still, although pear orange prices are usually at the lowest levels in July, due to the crop peak and lower demand (because of the cold), quotes did not drop so sharply compared to June (only 1 %). The price average in July, at 18.06 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, on tree, dropped 32.6 % compared to that in the same month last year (when the output from the citrus belt was lower), in nominal terms, – but, compared to that in the same period of 2017, quotes rose 12 %.