Orange juice, soon a luxury product? Since July 2022, its price has increased by 77%, reaching its most expensive price in history, according to Capital. The average supermarket price in 2022 was €1.13 per litre. Several reasons can explain this increase: natural disasters, the health situation or the global nature of the orange juice market.
The two countries that produce the most orange juice are Brazil and the United States. Florida, the main American state supplying the juice, was hit by particularly violent hurricanes in November 2022, tearing everything in their path. Result: "The United States will experience the lowest harvest in its history", and "international orange juice stocks are at their lowest level for 10 years", according to Quentin Mathieu, head of economy of the union La coopération agricole .
Another problem affecting the productions: the so-called yellow dragon disease, transmitted by a small insect, the psylla, which feeds on sap. It has been wreaking havoc since the early 2000s. US production is said to have dropped almost 80% since 2005 due to this disease.
Hurricanes and disease are accompanied by another problem for the orange juice market: global demand has declined. A trio of issues promising general price increases over the long term.
