2 EU imports of oranges
2.1 Trade flows
The EU is the largest orange importer in the world. In 2003, EU orange imports amounted
about 805,000t, equivalent to 23% of world orange imports (FAO, 2005). In addition, EU
intra-trade of oranges, originating in the southern EU member countries Spain, Italy, Greece,
and Portugal, accounted for about 1.6 million tons, of which 74% originate in Spain.
The non-EU countries exporting oranges to the EU can be divided into northern and southern
hemisphere suppliers, characterized by distinct orange export seasons. The major northern
hemisphere suppliers are the Mediterranean countries (MED1), which accounted for 88.4% of
total EU orange imports from January to June in the period 1988-2004, and Cuba (Eurostat,
various issues). In contrast, the orange export season of the primary southern hemisphere
suppliers, including South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Zimbabwe and Swaziland lasts
from June to November (Figure 1).
The most important MED exporting oranges to the EU are Morocco and Israel. Both
countries’ orange exports decreased markedly between 1988 and 2004 (Figure 2). Additional
MED exporting oranges to the EU are Egypt, Cyprus, Tunisia and Turkey, with Cypriot
orange exports to the EU exhibiting a decrease and Egyptian orange exports a recent increase.
The MED’s orange exports to the EU represented 72% of EU imports from non-EU countries
during the EU harvest season lasting from November 1 to May 31 in the period 1988 to 2004.
Figure 1: Seasonal pattern of extra-EU orange imports, 2002-2004
Jan-02 Apr-02 Jul-02 Oct-02 Jan-03 Apr-03 Jul-03 Oct-03 Jan-04 Apr-04 Jul-04 Oct-04
—•— Major northern hemisphere suppliers —Major southern hemisphere suppliers
Major northern hemisphere suppliers: Morocco, Israel, Tunisia, Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Cuba; Major southern
hemisphere suppliers: South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Zimbabwe, Swaziland; Sources: Eurostat
1 The MED countries comprise Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestine
Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey, the countries covered by the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Cyprus
and Malta became EU members in 2004.