en.Wedoany.com Reported - Fortgreen's sales to citrus growers doubled in 2025, according to Silvio César Gregório do Nascimento, the company's regional commercial manager for São Paulo. He stated that despite citrus prices retreating from historic highs, the company remains optimistic about this market.
Citrus prices are no longer at the record highs seen before 2025, but interest from agricultural input companies in this sector continues to grow. Fortgreen, which originated in Paraná state, initially served grain growers before diversifying its operations. At least 8% of its revenue now comes from sales to citrus growers.
When orange prices broke through R$90 per box at the end of 2024, it was seen as a golden period for the citrus industry, similar to when soybean prices approached R$200 per bag. However, citrus prices began to decline in 2025, and a 40.8 kg box of oranges is currently selling for R$25, a drop of 72%. Orange juice futures traded in New York have fallen nearly 70% from their all-time record of US$5.43 per pound, and are currently trading at around US$1.65 to US$1.70 per pound.
Nascimento has worked with citrus clients for over 30 years. He noted that price fluctuations depend not only on supply from Brazil, the world's largest orange juice exporter, but also on global consumption. The new reality is linked to a tepid response in global orange juice consumption and increased supply. According to data from the Citrus Protection Fund (Fundecitrus), orange production in the citrus belt of São Paulo and the Triângulo/Southwest Minas Gerais region for the 2025/26 season is 292.94 million boxes (each 40.8 kg), a 26.9% increase from the 230.87 million boxes in the 2024/25 season.
A price rebound in the short term is unlikely, which could theoretically dampen investment in agricultural inputs. But Nascimento argues: "We can't control prices right now, but we can control yield. Fortgreen is fully focused on this market. If I sell at R$100 but have low yield, it's the same as selling at R$35 or R$40 but with high yield." He assesses that only the most specialized growers will remain in the citrus industry in the future.
Despite the challenges, Nascimento believes Fortgreen can double its citrus sales again in 2026. He attributes this potential to an improved product portfolio and new products launched in response to market demand. Growth is partly driven by an expanded product portfolio for the citrus business, which currently includes three solutions: foliar nutrition, soil nutrition, and adjuvants.
Fortgreen was founded in the city of Paissandu, Paraná state, and has been part of Ireland's Origin Enterprises group since 2023. In 2023, the multinational officially launched F1RST Agbiotech as a platform focused on biological inputs, giving biological products a new boost. Nascimento noted: "Biological products are growing rapidly, and we decided to enter this market as well, with great success. These are high-tech products that need to be driven by sales."
Over the past five years, Fortgreen's business in the citrus sector has increased as it entered the São Paulo market. The company now has executives in almost all Brazilian states. The citrus industry has expanded into Minas Gerais, Goiás, and the northeastern states of Bahia and Sergipe. The conversation with Nascimento took place during the Expocitros trade fair in late May, a traditional citrus industry exhibition held in Cordeirópolis (São Paulo state) and organized by the Sylvio Moreira Citrus Center, which is affiliated with the São Paulo state government. The event also saw a strong presence of representatives from Mato Grosso do Sul state, which has recently attracted investments from major orange juice industry players such as Cutrale.
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