The 2025/26 EU citrus campaign is shaping a landscape of clear contrasts, with firm prices but strong divergences between producing countries. According to the EU Citrus Panel (23/06/2026), the average EU orange price reached 108 €/100 kg in May, although the evolution by Member State reveals two very distinct speeds.
Italy once again leads the market at 152 €/100 kg, consolidating its position as the country with the highest prices in Europe. Its domestic market, traditionally robust, maintains elevated values even in a context of growing competition and tight supply.
At the opposite end, Greece remains the cheapest market at 79 €/100 kg, reflecting a more pressured production structure and lower recovery capacity. Between these extremes sit Spain and Portugal, at 94 €/100 kg and 93 €/100 kg, respectively, showing a stability that contrasts with Italy’s sharp escalation.
Interannual trends confirm this divergence: Italy records a 5% increase, Portugal rises 12%, Spain remains stable and Greece falls slightly. Compared with the five‑year average, Portugal is the country that deviates most from its historical reference, with a 43% increase, followed by Greece (+30%) and Spain and Italy (+18%). This behaviour makes Portugal the surprise of the campaign, with a highly pressured market and prices well above its usual benchmark.
Mandarins and other small citrus
In mandarins and small citrus, market pressure is even more evident. The EU has significantly increased imports during key months — a clear sign of lower internal availability and firm prices at origin. Between January and May, entries from third countries — especially Morocco, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and South Africa — grew strongly, driven by stable consumption and insufficient European supply to meet demand.
This rise in imports reflects a tight market across all Member States, with firm prices and growing dependence on external suppliers to ensure supply.
A campaign of solid prices and increasingly differentiated markets
The 2025/26 campaign confirms a scenario of solid prices, tight supply and increasingly differentiated markets, where competitiveness, supply capacity and import pressure set the pace of European citrus production.
