Orange juice crisis as poor harvests mean we face shortages and price hikes

24 January 2024 , 19:03

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Getting hold of a glass of orange juice may become increasingly difficult (Image: Getty Images/Westend61)

If you like to start your day with a glass of orange juice, this may be hard to swallow.

Industry experts warn the health-boosting breakfast staple is “under threat” as we face shortages and price hikes this year. Over the past 12 months, harvests of citrus fruits in the major exporting regions of Brazil and Florida have been poor.

This has been compounded by the ongoing impacts of climate change and supply route disruption – while the wars in Ukraine and Gaza are also taking their toll on orange juice and many other commodities.

The soaring costs of growing, processing and supplying oranges began to take effect on both from-concentrate and not-from-concentrate juice brands last summer. Prices have already surged by 37.7% on average.

Sarah Baldwin, chief executive of Purity Soft Drinks, said: “Orange juice is under threat. All the signs point to a significant shortage ahead, which will impact consumer prices of this post-pandemic health staple. It’s time for suppliers to be open about the challenges.”

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The British Fruit Juice Association says orange is the UK’s best-selling juice. Juice market revenue here is worth £2.3billion, according to insights firm Statista, of which orange juice makes up £974million.

Nada Farhoud