Summary

The global citrus market has experienced considerable developments since 2020. While production has generally been on an upward trend, growth was slowed in 2022 across many countries in the European Union and worldwide, partly due to increased input costs and adverse weather conditions. In France, citrus production rebounded in 2021 with 88.2 thousand tons harvested, showing a strong recovery despite previous declines due to factors like weather and disease. However, France remains a net importer of citrus, primarily sourcing from Spain, with imports representing a significant component of its domestic citrus consumption.

Oranges dominate the consumption preferences in France, followed by clementines/mandarins/tangerines and lemons/limes. The retail prices for oranges, lemons, and clementines in France have seen an overall increase from 2014 to 2022. In terms of specific segments, the organic citrus market is noteworthy, with a growth rate that surged until 2015, but recent years (2020-2022) have observed a decline in organic fruit consumption. Corsica emerges as a key region for French citrus, particularly for clementines and pomelos, with production increasing by 28% over a five-year period and a noted expansion in organic farming areas. Demand for citrus in France shows clear seasonality, with interest peaking significantly each December.

French Citrus Market: Consumer Preferences and Consumption Trends

In recent years, the French market has observed interesting shifts and behaviors among consumers regarding citrus fruits. Despite France not being a primary producer of citrus, relying heavily on imports from countries like Spain and a significant portion from Italy and Portugal, citrus fruits remain an integral part of the French diet. Specifically, producers in the PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) and Corsica regions focus on clementines and lemons, which are among the preferred types of citrus in France.

The French demand for citrus, characterized by its seasonality and origin as the top purchasing criteria, shows that the consumers give high importance to when and where their fruits are grown, a reflection of the current environmental and ethical production debates. This demand manifests in consumption trends that, while increasing in value by roughly 10 percent over the past five years, have slightly dipped in volume by approximately 2 to 3 percent. 

Consumer confidence in fruit remains high, with over 90 percent trust level, a stable trend from the previous year. Nevertheless, concerns are growing about climatic challenges, price inflation, and the preference for pesticide-free products, affecting purchasing decisions. Interestingly, the French express varying desires to increase their fruit and vegetable intake based on their socio-professional categories, with higher socio-professional classes showing a stronger inclination than lower ones and the inactive population.

From a market size perspective, the value of national production fluctuates, with estimates ranging from approximately 750 to 1300 million dollars over a span of five years. When it comes to citrus imports, which are substantial, France sees a negative trade balance, emphasizing its reliance on foreign citrus supplies. Spain stands out as the main supplier of these inputs, while Dutch intermediation is noted due to their role as a significant European trading hub.

Trends in the citrus market are shaped by various influences. For example, organic farming is a growing sector in France with interest in organic citrus production areas increasing annually, signaling an adaptation towards consumer preferences for organic produce, which has seen both surges and declines over the past decade. Corsica, in particular, has solidified its reputation in this domain with organic clementines and pomelos' production area expanding significantly.

Lastly, the market experiences noticeable seasonality in demand, with a peak in searches and likely consumption occurring at the end of each year.

Key Players Shaping the Citrus Market Landscape

The citrus market is a dynamic playing field with various contributors that significantly shape the industry. Among these key players, we encounter a blend of producers, distributors, and retailers that each bring their own flavor to the table.

  • Producers:

Nurturing Nature's Gifts At the production end of the spectrum, regions such as PACA and Corsica in France have established themselves as nurturing grounds for citrus fruits, particularly specializing in clementines and lemons. Corsican producers, with their meticulous approach to cultivation, have achieved recognition through Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) labels, securing a prime spot in the market for their clementines and pomelos. These producers not only focus on conventional farming practices but have also branched out into organic production, thereby catering to a growing segment of health and environmentally-conscious consumers.

  • Distributors:

The Global Citrus Conveyor Distributors are vital cogs in the citrus market machine, ensuring that the produce reaches various geographic locations efficiently. Countries such as Spain have emerged as significant exporters, especially to France, which imports a substantial portion of its citrus consumption. The Netherlands, too, plays a unique role due to its port status, serving as a critical hub for the import and re-export of citrus within Europe.

  • Retailers:

Bringing Citrus to the Aisles Retail chains like Iga contribute significantly to the citrus market by bringing an array of citrus varieties directly to consumers. From the standard oranges and lemons to the more exotic kumquats and Mineola, retailers ensure that consumers have access to a wide variety of choices, catering to diverse tastes and preferences. Their role in the market is not just limited to providing raw fruit but extends to a variety of citrus-based products including juices, marmalades, and essential oils, thus enriching the market with a comprehensive citrus experience.

  • Trends and Consumer Preferences:

Organic and Seasonal Demands Reflecting the modern consumer's preference for sustainable and healthful options, the market has seen a steady increase in organic citrus production. This trend aligns with the overall demand for organic produce, which, despite recent fluctuations, remains a fundamental component of the citrus market demand in France.

  • Market Synchrony:

Seasonal Peaks and Trust Consumer trust and seasonality significantly influence purchasing behavior. Players in the market time their offers to align with these peaks, such as the noticeable surge in citrus searches and purchases during December. 

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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 21/09/2023
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Definition and presentation

Citrus fruits come from the Citrus family, which includes bergamot, lemon, lime, chinotto, mandarin, orange, grapefruit and clementine. Citrus fruits are a source of vitamins, minerals and fiber, all important for a varied, balanced diet. This is an important market in terms of size within the fruit market itself, as it includes some very popular fruits.

In France, most production is concentrated in the PACA and Corsica regions, which are prolific producers of clementines and lemons. Worldwide, citrus fruits are produced in over 140 countries, with China, Brazil and India leading the way.

France is not a major citrus producer and imports a large part of its consumption, notably from Spain.

After a drop in French production in 2019 due to weather conditions and insect-borne diseases, production growth resumed but slowed in 2022, as in many countries in the European Union and worldwide, due to higher input costs and weather conditions.

1.2 The global market

The twelve biggest citrus producers World, ****, in millions of tons FAOSTAT

China is by far the world leader in terms of citrus production, with ** million tonnes in ****. Brazil and India are also major producers, with **.** and **.** million tonnes respectively in ****.

World citrus market value World, ****-****, in billions of dollars FAOSTAT The ...

1.3 The French market

French citrus production France, ****-****, in thousands of tons FAOSTAT

In ****, citrus production in France saw a notable decline, mainly due to two major factors. Firstly, unfavorable weather conditions had a significant impact on crops. Late spring frosts damaged the blossoms and young fruit of citrus trees, reducing the expected harvest. ...

1.4 Balance of trade

Citrus market trade balance France, ****-****, in millions of dollars UNCOMTRADE

France's citrus trade balance is largely negative (***).

French citrus imports France, ****, in millions of dollars UNCOMTRADE Unsurprisingly, Spain is our main citrus supplier. Note: The Netherlands is neither an exporter nor a producer of citrus fruit. Their importance here is ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 Typology of demand

Demand for citrus fruits breaks down as follows:

Wholesalers: Growers may sell their citrus fruit wholesale to food wholesalers. Wholesalers typically buy large quantities of citrus and then resell them to retailers, restaurants, hotels and other customers.

Retailers: Citrus is sold in supermarkets, grocery stores, local farmers' markets and other retail ...

2.2 Fruit consumption

Purchasing criteria for fresh fruit and vegetables France, ****, in percent Franceagrimer

The seasonality of the product seems to remain the main criterion for buying fresh fruit and vegetables for the French, with **%, although it is closely followed by provenance with **%. These are major issues for consumers, not least as a result ...

2.3 Citrus fruit consumption

To estimate citrus consumption in France, we perform the following calculation: Imports+production-exports

Trend in citrus consumption in France France, ****-****, in thousands of tons FAOSTAT and UNCOMTRADE

Citrus consumption is set to fall slightly over the ****-**** period, with a decrease of **,*** tonnes. At the same time, fruit consumption in ...

2.4 Organic

The most widely consumed organic products in France are fruit and vegetables. Citrus is no exception to the rule, and demand for organic citrus represents a fundamental element in French citrus demand.

Organic fruit consumption growth rates by year France, ****-****, in percent Agencebio

The rate of change in organic fruit ...

2.5 Demand cyclicality

Changes in interest in citrus research France, ****-**** google trends

Demand for citrus is particularly concentrated. Every year, there is a marked increase in searches at the end of the year in December . NB: the graph above represents the proportion of searches for a given keyword́ in a given region and ...

3 Market structure

3.1 Value chain

Source: ****

3.2 Production

How are citrus fruits grown?

Growing conditions: Citrus thrives mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, generally located between **° north and south latitude. China leads the way in terms of citrus production, followed by Brazil and the United States. Citrus requires specific climatic conditions for optimum yields. Temperature is a critical factor, ...

3.3 Distribution

The long circuit: This distribution channel involves several intermediaries, such as wholesalers or retailers, before reaching the end consumer. Supermarkets, for example, favor this channel. Advantages include wide geographic distribution, reduced storage and transport costs for the manufacturer, and a smaller sales force. However, the presence of intermediaries can reduce the ...

3.4 Corsican clementines and pomelos

Corsica has developed a strong tradition of citrus growing, with almost every residence owning citrus trees such as oranges, clementines, lemons, mandarins and blood oranges. Farmers in Corsica place great importance on preserving the freshness and flavor of their citrus fruits, picking them when fully ripe and storing them under the ...

3.5 Analysis of costs and returns

Production costs:

Labor, inputs, water and irrigation, energy, as well as equipment and infrastructure are key elements in the cost of citrus production. Labor includes expenses for various tasks such as planting, pruning, harvesting and tree maintenance. Inputs required for tree health and yield include products such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides ...

4 Offer analysis

4.1 Offer typology

Source: ****

Citrus products :

Orange juice

Lemon juice

Grapefruit juice

Tangerine juice

Lime juice

Marmalade

Jelly

Candied zest

Sorbet

Essential oil

Vinegar

Sweets

Tart

Liqueurs

Sauce

Cakes and cookies

Jam

Chocolate

Fragrances

Skin care products

4.2 Sales prices in France

Average annual retail prices per kilogram for * citrus fruits France, ****-****, in €/kg INSEE

From **** to ****, prices for oranges, lemons and clementines have risen overall. The price of oranges rose from €*.** in **** to €*.* in ****. The price of lemons has risen from €*.** in **** to €*.** in ****. Finally, the price of clementines has risen ...

4.3 Supply trends

In ****, over **,*** farms, or **.*% of farms in France, were involved in organic farming, either certified or in transition to certification. Although the number of organic producers will have increased by *.*% in ****, this growth rate is lower than in ****. Half of the cessations of certification recorded in **** are due to retirement, rather ...

5 Regulations

5.1 UNECE Standard FFV-14 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of citrus fruit

I. Product definition

This standard applies to citrus fruit of varieties (***) grown from the following species, to be supplied fresh to the consumer, citrus fruit for industrial processing being excluded:

Lemons from the species Citrus limon (***) Burm. f., or its hybrids. Persian limes from the species Citrus latifolia (***) Tanaka, large-fruited acid ...

5.2 Hygiene and sanitation package

The distribution of fruit and vegetables is strictly regulated by European health regulations for the agri-food sector. In ****, a set of standardized regulations came into force across the European Union, known as the "Hygiene Package". These regulations provide a framework for the entire industry and all its players: producers, distributors and ...

5.3 Appellations and certifications

Other tools can be used to certify the origin or quality of strawberries.

The Appellation d'Origine Protégée (***) is a European sign with value throughout the EU, awarded to a product whose every stage of production respects a recognized know-how in the same geographical area, giving the product its characteristics. ...

List of charts

  • The twelve biggest citrus producers
  • Citrus market size worldwide
  • Europe's eight largest citrus growers
  • Types of citrus grown worldwide
  • French citrus production
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Latest news

Agrial food group to merge with Natura'Prods to create Agrial Natura'Prods. - 22/01/2023
  • Merger between Agrial and Natura'Pro
  • Agrial owns some sixty brands (including Florette, Danao and Soignon)
  • Sales of 6.2 billion euros by 2021, 12,000 farmer members and 22,100 employees, including 13,000 in France
  • Established in 11 countries
  • Natura'pro is an agricultural cooperative based in the Drôme provençale region of France
  • 320 employees and 5,400 farmer-members for sales of 84 million euros
Agri-food: Agrial continues to grow after merger with Natura'Pro - 01/06/2023
  • Agrial: first place among French cooperatives
  • Merger with Natura'Pro, agricultural cooperative in the Rhône Valley
  • Agrial: sales of over 7 billion euros by 2022
  • Natura'Pro: sales of 84 million euros in 2022
  • Agrial: 14 agri-food sites in the Alpes Sud-Est region
  • Natura'Pro has stores for agricultural professionals and the general public (under the Gamm Vert banner)
  • Agrial sales doubled in ten years
Planasa-Priméale collaboration on asparagus - 26/01/2021

  • Cooperation agreement between Priméale and Planasa France for the 2021-2023 seasons
  • Planasa France grows 170 ha of different varieties of asparagus, mainly Darzilla
  • Production target for white asparagus: 700 tons
  • Brands under which asparagus will be marketed: Domaine Saint Jacques and Priméale

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Agrial Coopérative Primeal
Carrefour Groupe
Auchan groupe
E.Leclerc
Eurogroup Consulting
Andros Groupe
Tropicana
Joker (Eckes Granini France)
Innocent
Biocoop
Naturalia
Bio c' Bon

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