In recent months, according to EastFruit analysts, the global lemon market has experienced significant price increases, driven by export restrictions and escalating demand. Notably, Turkey’s decision to halt lemon exports has had a profound impact on international prices.
Turkey’s export ban and its implications
On April 8, 2025, Turkey announced a suspension of lemon exports to stabilize domestic markets and ensure local availability. This move has disrupted supply chains, leading importing countries to seek alternative sources. Although a day later the decision to ban exports has been removed, the market remained very bullish.
Egypt’s response: sharp price increases
“On the EastFruit Trade platform, immediately after the export ban was lifted, export prices rose from $900 to $1,250 per ton,” says Oleksandr Ukrayinets, an international consultant with the FAO. “That’s an increase of 38.9% in just one day. Moreover, by the end of the same day, prices had climbed another $80 to reach $1,330 per ton. A year ago during the same period, the export price of Egyptian lemons was $550 per ton — representing a year-on-year increase of 141.8%,” the expert added. He also noted that following the lifting of the export ban on April 9, the price of lemons from Egypt remained at $1,330 per ton, with no signs so far of a return to pre-ban levels.
Domestic market fluctuations
Prices in the domestic markets in Turkey and Egypt have been growing even before the export ban announcement. In Turkey, wholesale lemon prices rose from $0.66/kg in early March to $1.06/kg, with current prices ranging between $0.53/kg and $1.45/kg. A year ago, the range was $0.16/kg to $0.41/kg, reflecting substantial growth.
In Cairo’s wholesale markets, prices increased from $0.18/kg in early March to $0.38/kg. Currently, prices hover between $0.36/kg and $0.40/kg, compared to $0.04/kg to $0.08/kg during the same period last year but, according to EastFruit, sharp increase in domestic prices is inevitable.
“Even though Turkey eventually decided against banning lemon exports, prices are unlikely to decline significantly,” says Yevhen Kuzin, FAO Horticultural Market Analyst. “Lemon prices remain high across Europe, and they traditionally tend to rise towards the end of the season in the Northern Hemisphere.”
He also notes that in Poland, wholesale lemon prices have reached an all-time high, increasing by 21% over the past four weeks to reach $1.9 per kg.
Read also: Unique Uzbek lemons, previously banned in the USA, conquer Japan!
Ripple effects in the UAE
The United Arab Emirates has also experienced rising lemon prices, with rates escalating from $0.86/kg in early March to $1.82/kg—a 111.6% increase.
Will Egypt follow Turkey and restrict lemon exports?
Egypt has a recent history of restricting or limiting exports of products, if they become too expensive for local consumers according to the government’s vision. Expected increase of domestic lemon prices will certainly get noticed and could cause the government to follow an example of Turkey in banning lemon exports.
Russia is in trouble
Russia is by far the largest buyers of lemons from Egypt and Turkey and these price hikes could cause significant problems for the local consumers, which have reportedly already decreased consumption of fruits due to high inflation denting into their disposable incomes. It will also impact lemon prices in the Middle East and, to a lesser extent, in the Eastern part of the EU.
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