THE PRODUCT

• The name “lemon juice” is given to the product obtained from the juice concentration of different lemon varieties that meets the requirements of the Argentine Food Code, art. 1046 – Resol. 2067/88.
• There are different types of concentrated lemon juice: turbid, clarified, of different acidity degrees. Special products are also elaborated according to the customers’ preference.
• The industry employs approximately 17 k of lemon to obtain 1 k of concentrated juice. This relation varies according to the weather conditions during the production cycle.

ARGENTINE AND THE WORLD MARKET

• Argentina is the main world producer of concentrated lemon juice, followed by the USA.
• Our country processes almost 41% of world lemon and 88% of what is industrialized in the southern hemisphere.
• Argentine juice is of exceptional quality due to its colour, flavour, pulp proportion and the soluble/acidity solids relationship, which are of great advantage in the international market.

NATIONAL PRODUCTION

• In 2004, the Argentine production of concentrated lemon juice was of 54 thousand tons.
• During the period 1999-2004, the juice production registered an annual growing rate of 5%, similar to the increase registered by the raw material production.
• Concentrated lemon juice represents almost 75% of total citric juice elaborated in Argentina.
• 70% of the lemon production – averaging 1.2 million tons – is devoted to the industry.

• Essential oil (3,600 tons), dehydrated peel (51,000 tons) and frozen pulp (730 tons) are also elaborated as a result of the grinding.
• Production is seasonal. The greatest volume is elaborated during May-September.

EXPORTS

• In average, 70% of Argentine production of concentrated lemon juice is exported through the port of Buenos Aires.
• In 2004, 38,000 tons were exported at US$ 35 million.
• 57% is sent to the European Union, 25% to the NAFTA countries and 7% to the Middle East.
• During 1999-2004, the exported volume increased 45%, while the FOB price per ton grew 15%. The shipments to the Netherlands were doubled, while USA had a 10% decrease in the share as buyer of Argentine juice.
• The other destinations were Canada and France (2% each), and Belgium (1%).
• During the first quarter of 2005, the exported volume decreased 5% in volume and 15% in value, as regards the same period of the previous year.
• The sale is made in bulk, in plastic or tin drums of 307 k, or in bins of 1,535 net kilos.
• The transportation is carried out by Reefer ships at -20ºC.

• Two elaborating companies concentrate 60% of exports, while the first tour total just over 80%.
• The export tax for concentrated juice is 5%. Furthermore, the exported product enjoys an extra-zone reimbursement of 5% over the FOB value in ordinary juice and of 6% for clarified juice. The concentrated juice that is not exported, is sold to local factories that return it to its natural concentration and mix it, they use it as acidulant or they pack it under tradenames to be used as condiment.
• Of the total volume directed to the internal market, half is used by soft drinks factories.
• The remaining demand is conformed by the manufacturers of juice-based drinks and of pure juice.

RAW MATERIALS

• 90% of the raw materials are produced in Tucuman. In this region, the agro-climatic conditions are ideal for lemon cultivation.
• After the sugar industry, the lemon industry is the one of greater economic and social importance in Tucuman.
• The rest comes from Jujuy, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Salta, Misiones and Buenos Aires, in order of importance.
• The quality and productivity in the juice elaboration process, are determined by the acidity, the soluble solids and the lemon size.

COMPANIES

• Seven are the principal companies that produce concentrated lemon juice, apart from subproducts: Citrusvil S.A., S.A. San Miguel, Citromax S.A.C.I., Vicente Trapani, Litoral Citrus S. A., COTA S.A (Tucumán) and La Moraleja S.A. (Jujuy).
• Five companies concentrate almost 90% of the production.
• The yearly capacity installed is around 760 thousand tons.
• During the 1990s, there was an increase in the grinding capacity in almost all Tucuman factories; which doubled in some cases.
• The industries vertical integration level is high, incorporating cooperatives and packaging plants moving forward in the chain by industrializing the production.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Asociación Tucumana de Citrus - Federcitrus - INDEC - .INTA - http://www.fas.usda.gov.

CHAMBERS

Asociación Tucumana del Citrus; Monteagudo 490, piso 1º, (4000) San Miguel de Tucumán, Tel. 0054 0381-4214611/4212969 – E-Mail: asociacion@atcitrus.com - Cámara de industriales Cítricos; Lavalle 3161 PB C, (C1190AAI), Capital Federal; Tel. 0054 11-4865-0384; E-Mail: federcitrus@ciudad.com.ar y federcitrus@speedy.com.ar - Asociación Citricultores de Concordia: Carlos Pellegrini 407, (3200), Concordia, Entre Ríos ; Tel. 0054 0345–4212178; Fax: 0345-4220312; E-Mail: citricultores@arnet.com.ar. Asociación de Citricultores y Afines del Alto Paraná, Armando Coste 50, Montecarlo – Misiones; 0054 03751-480095.