The price of lemon in the Guatemalan market faces an upward trend since February and the unit is quoted this Monday in Q1.40 the Persian and Q0.65 cents wholesale price, which has moved to the final consumer.
The consumer price index (CPI) last month already warned that the price of the citrus was reflecting an increase (positive incidence) nationwide with a variation of 0.01%. That is, it is one of the products that is already impacting on Guatemalan and consumers.
On that occasion, there was also an incidence of propane gas (0.09%) and gasoline (0.03%), according to monthly document.
What explains it?
Free press He consulted the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) about what they have observed and the price variation that the CPI reflected.
To the current situation of the lemon price in the market, the Maga replied: “The price of the Creole lemon, medium of first, to the wholesaler, in the La Terminal market, zone 4 of the city of Guatemala, as of March 14, 2025, is in Q500 a thousand;
In addition, that the price of Creole lemon, medium of first, to the final consumer, in that wholesale center, is in Q3.25 the five units; While the Persian lemon was observed at a price of Q7 the five units.
“The price of the Creole lemon, medium of first, to the wholesaler, in the market the terminal, zone 4 of the city of Guatemala, as of March 14, 2025, is in Q500 a thousand;
Department of agriculture
“The price of lemon has a cyclic behavior that depends on the availability of the product in the market.
The effects of the climate in recent years and diseases have caused the decrease in yields, and therefore production, as well as phytosanitary demands and commercial barriers that limit access to markets. The high lemon harvest cycle is during the months of June to September.
There is no harvest
The Maga accounts for, that, according to wholesalers, the price increase is due to the decrease in product harvest collection (less offer), derived from the production cycle, which is in its low phase, according to the seasonality of the crop in the producing areas of the southern coast and east of the country.
That is, due to seasonal production effect there is now no availability for consumers.
Alcista curve is expected
The agricultural authority also makes models of consumer price trends according to the seasonality of production of all products.
In the case of lemon, according to the Maga, “based on historical behavior, product price for the following weeks, at least in March and April, it will be upward, referred to the decrease in the supply of the product in the markets.”
Alternatives
Given the increase observed in the price of citrus, the authority also makes the following recommendation to consumers that exist in the market and that is local production:
- Mandarin lemon
- Real lemon
These products are substitutes, but there is a superior preference for Persian or Creole lemon.
The authority recognizes that the terminal has been observed in the market, the entry of lemon of Mexican origin, according to wholesalers, to meet local demand.
Production Area
Citrus production and culture is located in 20 departments, according to a sample carried out in 2020 by that institution.
The main areas are located in the southern and east region of the country, with a total of five thousand 572.15 hectares, with an estimated performance of 485.85 quintals/hectare of harvest.
It is projected that 95.16% of citrus production in Guatemala is for local consumption, and 4.84% for export, especially for consumers in the United States, the Netherlands and El Salvador.