The line chart illustrates seasonal fluctuations in citrus fruit imports from the EU and non-EU countries to the UK throughout 2022. The figures are measured in thousand tonnes.
Overall, there is a clear contrast between the two trends. Citrus imports from the EU started at relatively high levels in the winter months, declined steadily until mid-summer, and then rose again towards the end of the year. In contrast, non-EU imports displayed an opposite pattern, peaking during the summer months and falling sharply in winter.
At the beginning of the year, EU imports stood at around 14 thousand tonnes, significantly higher than non-EU imports at about 9 thousand tonnes. From January to July, EU imports decreased continuously, reaching their lowest point of roughly 3 thousand tonnes in August. After this trough, figures recovered sharply, climbing back to nearly 17 thousand tonnes by December.
Meanwhile, non-EU imports followed the reverse trend. Starting from just under 10 thousand tonnes in January, they gradually rose to approximately 16-17 thousand tonnes in July. After peaking in midsummer, the volume fell drastically to only 4-5 thousand tonnes by October, before stabilizing at a low level.
In summary, EU citrus imports were dominant during the colder months, while non-EU countries supplied most citrus fruits to the UK in summer. This pattern reflects a strong seasonal variation, with complementary roles played by EU and non-EU sources across the year.