The Spanish citrus industry is reeling after a devastating storm that caused losses estimated at $51 million in Spain.Storm Gloria swept into the Balearic Islands last weekend bringing torrential rain before striking Catalonia, Valencia and the southern regions of Murcia and Andalusia with rain and snow. Heavy rains and violent winds continued in the region throughout last week.The storm has left at least 13 people dead and caused untold damage to the Spanish agricultural sector, specifically the citrus industry.Spanish citrus organisations estimate the total loss to the citrus industry to be at least $51 million.Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association, said Spain was the biggest exporter of citrus in the world. “An impact on their volumes will inf luence global citrus trade,” he told FTW. “The country is over the half way mark in terms of the harvest season. The impact will be on their later varieties.”Oranges and mandarins have been the worst affected.Commenting on the impact of their volume decline on South African citrus, Chadwick said: “Their product will be out before the South African season begins. This may, however, even mean a gap between Spain and southern hemisphere fruit, which is not good for the citrus sector as a whole.”He said in an ideal world there was always good quality citrus available to consumers at reasonable prices throughout the year. Weather experts predict more severe weather in the future – whether it be dry conditions, heat, hail, wind or snow. According to Chadwick many new orchards are being established under netting to mitigate these risks. “Growers in the north have cut their trees back into a dormant state so as to keep the trees alive during the dry months. Orchards that were earmarked for replanting have been removed and replanting delayed,” he said, indicating that natural disasters in general were simply not good for the sector regardless of where they occurred in the world.“We hope that the damage is not too severe, and that the Spanish can salvage enough fruit to keep the customer happy. Our thoughts are with those growers impacted by the event – it is devastating to have prepared a harvestable crop only to see it ruined by natural elements.”