Peruvian citrus exporter Agrocitrus has been tracking El Niño development since the start of the year and says forecasts suggest the phenomenon could persist through April 2027, directly threatening Peru's citrus blossom season. The company specializes in Tahiti limes and has three generations of production experience monitoring climate patterns in the region.
Peru is a significant supplier of Tahiti limes and other citrus to North American markets. El Niño events historically disrupt flowering and fruit set, meaning crop losses experienced during this season's blossom period wouldn't show up in export volumes until well into 2027. This compounds already-documented stress on Peruvian citrus, which has seen mandarin exports fall 43% this year.
Buyers with lime or citrus programs sourced from Peru should be factoring this into longer-range planning. A multi-season impact from El Niño on Peruvian citrus output would tighten supply at a time when global lime availability is already under pressure.