The global orange juice crisis is caused by disease and bad weather – here’s how to keep it on the breakfast table

Brazil's disease-hit orange harvests have triggered a global shortage of orange juice. Paulo Nabas/Shutterstock

Just as the world is coming out of the tea crisis, another breakfast staple, orange juice, is in the spotlight. Supply constraints have led to prices shooting up by more than 20% in a year.

The primary cause of this orange juice shortage is the significant hit to the orange harvest in Brazil, which accounts for nearly 70% of the global supply of orange juice. This year’s harvest is expected to be down by 24% compared with last year – and this is the third harvest in a row that has been difficult.