Written and Published by BMT Foods, April 14, 2026
Lemons are a major high-value citrus crop grown mainly in Mediterranean and subtropical climates, with two broad end uses: fresh market (table fruit) and processing (juices, juice concentrate, essential oils, frozen pulp, dehydrated peel). In the global market, the main players are Argentina, Spain, Turkey, Brazil and Mexico. Each country has a different orientation and focus on fresh versus processing.
Argentina
Argentina’s subtropical climate makes it one of the world’s top lemon producers. Production is concentrated in northwest Argentina with Tucumán being the dominant region. Argentina is the leading industrial lemon processor globally with a focus on juice and juice concentrate, oils, and dehydrated peel. Approximately 70% of Argentine lemons go to the processing industries. While Argentina is expecting a normal crop volume in 2026, the crop has been delayed by approximately one month due to heavy rains which negatively impacts the ability to harvest the fruits.
Spain
Spain’s Mediterranean climate with mild winters makes it ideal for high-quality fresh fruit. Production is highly concentrated in the southeast region. Spain is fresh-market dominant and a world leader in fresh lemon exports as well as a global leader in organic lemon production. The processing industry includes juices, juice concentrates, essential oils and peel. Processing is a secondary market but has a strategically important role for surplus fruit and lower-grade lemons.
Brazil
Brazil is a global citrus giant. However, the main emphasis and focus is on oranges rather than lemons. In this area of the world, the São Paulo state is the key citrus belt. In Brazil, what is commonly referred to as “lemon” production is actually primarily Tahiti (Persian) limes with smaller shares of lemons. True lemons (primarily Sicilian-type lemons) represent a smaller niche segment of Brazil’s citrus industry. The processing segment focuses on juices and juice concentrates for export markets for the beverage industry.
Turkey
Turkey is one of the largest lemon producers globally. Their warm Mediterranean climate is ideal for extended harvest seasons. The key regions in the area are the Mediterranean coast (Adana, Mersin, Antalya) as well as the Aegean region (Izmir area). Turkey has a mixed system with significant fresh export production as well as a growing processing sector for industrial use for juices, juice concentrate and essential oils production for the food and beverage industries. One distinctive Turkish practice is that lemons are stored in underground or semi-underground facilities carved into rock or soil which maintains high humidity and stable temperatures naturally allowing for supply for 6–9 months after harvest. Turkey is consistently among the top global lemon exporters.
Mexico
Mexico is a major global citrus producer, but its “lemon” industry is overwhelmingly dominated by limes and true lemons represent a very small share of total citrus output. Mexico’s tropical/subtropical climate enables year-round production. Globally, Mexico is not a leading producer of true lemons, despite being a citrus powerhouse overall. Where it exists, processing includes smaller batch productions of juice and juice concentrate.
Processing versus fresh orientation and global supply roles
- Argentina: industrial processing leader (juice, oil, peel) and industrial lemon backbone of global citrus industry
- Spain: fresh export leader and European fresh lemon hub
- Turkey: balanced fresh + processing and a seasonal fresh supplier to Eurasia
- Brazil: citrus processing giant with a citrus processing mega-industry (dominant in oranges, secondary in lemons/limes)
- Mexico: lime-focused fresh and a global lime powerhouse
BMT Foods offers both lemon juice concentrate and lemon juice NFC, as well as other citrus items that include lime products such lime juice concentrate and lime juice NFC, and orange products that include orange juice concentrate and orange juice NFC. Reach out to the BMT Foods team today for more information on our various citrus products.