Zimbabwe citrus export earnings jump 69% as shipments to EU, UK grow
Zimbabwe citrus export earnings jump 69% as shipments to EU, UK grow
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Zimbabwe’s citrus export earnings rose 69 percent to US$2.2 million in the first four months of this year, up from US$1.3 million over the same period last year, as harvesting of oranges and other citrus intensified across the country.
Figures released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) show that, in volume terms, citrus product exports increased 90 percent to 9.6 million kilogrammes from 5.06 million kilogrammes.
The citrus product grouping includes fresh or dried oranges, mandarins, grapefruit (including pomelos), lemons and limes, citrus fruit, as well as unfermented frozen and unfrozen orange juice, grapefruit juices and other single fruit juices.
Grapefruit, including pomelos, recorded the strongest growth. ZimStat statistics show export volume rose 205 percent to 3.8 million kg from 1.3 million kg, while earnings increased 197 percent to US$617 509 from US$208 000.
Lemons and limes also contributed significantly, with volumes rising 77 percent to 4.9 million kg from 2.8 million kg. Export earnings for lemons and limes increased 154 percent to US$893 670 from US$352 348.
Not all categories grew. Earnings from unfermented and unfrozen orange juice fell 10 percent to US$688 888 from US$761 825, while the value of orange exports dropped 13 percent to US$15 486 from US$17 768.
In an update on X, the Horticultural Development Council (HDC) said harvesting and processing for export had intensified across major citrus-growing areas, with exports bound for the European Union, the United Kingdom and Malaysia.
“From orchard to export market, Zimbabwean citrus is heading to the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK) and Malaysia, with new markets emerging in East Africa and Eastern Europe,” the HDC said.
The council highlighted employment linked to the sector, noting that Nottingham Estate near Beitbridge employs more than 1,000 people, nearly half of them women.
The HDC said it aims to double the national citrus area from about 4,000 hectares to 8,000 hectares by 2030, subject to investment of US$48 million, which it said would create 24,000 new jobs.
Production is also expected to rise. The Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment 2 (CLAFA 2) report projects orange output to increase 18 percent to 222 138 tonnes in the 2025/26 season, from 188 960 tonnes in 2024/25. The report attributes this to a 10 percent increase in area from 4 724ha to 5 166ha and an eight percent rise in yield from 40 to 43 tonnes per hectare.
Lemon and lime production is forecast to grow 11 percent to 7 462 tonnes from 6 726 tonnes, driven by a two percent rise in area from 177ha to 182ha and an eight percent improvement in yield from 38 to 41 tonnes per hectare.
Under the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS 2) for 2026 to 2030, Zimbabwe’s citrus industry is described as a significant source of foreign currency, employment and rural development, largely export-oriented and known for oranges (Navel and Valencia), soft citrus, lemons and grapefruit.
AFSRTS 2 projects the citrus value chain will grow from 347,000 tonnes in the 2025/26 season to 482,000 tonnes by 2030/31, with gross value expected to increase from US$576 million to US$925 million by 2030.
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