Swinging toward the Southern Hemisphere

The Packer's David Mitchell did a great job in covering the California surge in clementine production that is troubling Spanish clementine suppliers. The increase in California production has also been accompanied by continued increases in Southern Hemisphere clementine volume. While Spain's volumes have risen modestly - from 59,000 metric tons in 2001 to about 62,000 metric tons in 2005 - Southern Hemisphere supply has risen much faster. South Africa's shipments to the U.S. tripled from 4,000 metric tons in 2001 to 12,000 metric tons in 2005. Chile's clementine shipments to the U.S. last year were 8,000 metric tons, the first full year of market access. Spain's share of clementine imports has slipped from 78% of import supply in 2001 to 65% in 2005. The Southern Hemisphere's expansion of clementines shipped in the U.S. summer months, combined with rising Southern Hemisphere navel volume, likely will continue to hasten the contraction of valencia acreage in California.