The Impact of the Operational Performance of Citrus Sorting and Packing Workshops and Local Price Levels on Citrus Exports: A Case Study of Latakia Governorate

Abstract

The research aimed to study the effect of the operational performance of citrus sorting and packing workshops, and domestic prices on the volume of citrus exports, focusing on the marketing reality of the crop in Latakia Governorate, as the main production center. The study relied on the descriptive analytical approach, using the SPSS program to cover the period (2015–2024).

Where it was found that there is a huge operational gap within the workshops, causing the loss of export opportunities estimated at about 258,000 tons annually. Likewise, the analysis revealed a weakness in commodity diversification, as sorting and packing operations are concentrated by 78% on two varieties only (Navel and Valencia), which raises the risks of relying on limited varieties and weakens marketing flexibility. And the statistical analysis proved that the main problem does not lie in the quantity of the produced crop, but rather in the weakness of the equipment capacity of the workshops, making it the first and primary determinant of exports. It was also found that the high domestic price constitutes an obstacle that distances the product from export pathways toward the domestic market.

And based on the results, the research presented a roadmap for developing the sector, represented in activating contractual marketing through advance contracts between workshops and farmers, and between workshops and foreign markets to ensure supply stability and reduce sensitivity to price fluctuations. As well as the necessity of raising operational efficiency, to exploit the maximum capacity of disabled workshops, which contributes to developing farmers' returns and creating new job opportunities.