The citrus sector is a cornerstone of Tunisia’s economy, and citrus fruit is the second largest export earner in the fruit industry, just behind dates.
Among the popular orange varieties, the famous Maltese stands out, accounting for the largest share of the country’s exports.
National citrus production for the 2024/2025 season is expected to increase by 5.2% to 365,000 tons compared to the previous season, according to Dorsaf Ben Ahmed, head of the General Directorate of Agricultural Production.
The production of citrus fruit is divided between the varieties ‘Maltese oranges’ (89,500 tons), ‘Thomson navel’ oranges (117,300 tons), Clementines (78,900 tons) and lemons (53,000 tons), she said.
She added that production of all these varieties had increased, with the exception of lemons, which were 3.6% down on the previous season, and called on growers to respect the ripeness of these fruits before harvesting and selling them.
Regarding exports, she said that Tunisia exported 8,510 tons of citrus fruit in the 2023/2024 season, including 7,411 tons of Maltese oranges, an increase of 11.8% compared to the 2022/2023 season.
The value of citrus exports also went up by 15.5% to 25.460 million dinars.
It’s a fact: the citrus sector plays an important role in Tunisia from an agricultural, socio-economic and employment point of view. Citrus fruits are very popular, affordable and appreciated by consumers.
They meet the fruit needs of Tunisians for almost half the year, especially during the winter, when other fruits are scarce. Late varieties such as Valencia are available from November to May.
Exports up in 2023
According to the National Agricultural Observatory (ONAGRI), citrus exports, especially oranges, generated significant revenues of 12.8 million dinars (around €4.2 million) in 2023. These figures demonstrate not only the significant growth of the sector, but also the confidence that international markets have in Tunisian products.
This success in citrus fruit strengthens Tunisia’s position as a key player in the global fruit market, offering promising economic prospects for the country and new opportunities for Tunisian farmers.
With a record harvest of Maltese oranges and optimistic export prospects, Tunisia is confirming its position in the global citrus industry.
Citrus fruit is a pillar of agriculture and nutrition, and a strategic activity that Tunisians love, as it is well known that oranges are the most widely consumed fruit in the country.
However, this much-loved sector is increasingly exposed to threats, particularly the lack of rainfall and the succession of dry seasons. The cause: climate change and the ageing of citrus groves, particularly orange groves, which are between 60 and 100 years old, a strategic agricultural activity that is being severely tested, both economically and structurally.
