Market updates on a whole range of agri-food products with up-to-date price trends
Dried Fruit
Jul 19, 2023

Dates: limited water resources cap production

KERMAN. Iran may only rank fourth in the INC’s table date production chart, but the country sports a rich diversity of different varieties. Suppliers admit that water supply is a problem.
Fruit and Vegetables
Jul 19, 2023

Dried lentils: smaller acreage in North America

OTTAWA/ANKARA. Lentil acreage in the US and Canada is smaller this season, which is expected to tighten supplies. In Australia, farmers are hoping for rain, while the outlook for Turkey is promising.
Fruit and Vegetables
Jul 5, 2023

Dried beans: prices for adzuki beans have increased

BEIJING. While prices for adzuki beans have increased a little, the situation on the other Chinese bean markets is largely different. Demand still leaves much to be desired and the drought is causing problems for farmers.
Sugar
Jul 5, 2023

Sugar: high prices fail to impress buyers

BRASÍLIA/BRUSSELS. Grounds are slippery in Brazil’s sugar market as local traders do not only need to keep a close eye on quotations in New York and London but are also confronted with manipulation and fraud. The EU may not be Brazil’s top export destination, but raw cane sugar imports have soared despite prices being high.
Fruit and Vegetables
May 31, 2023

Dried beans: sowing is almost complete

BEIJING. While sowing is almost complete in China, the dried bean market continues to be sluggish with little trading taking place. This also leaves prices largely stagnant.
Dairy Products
May 25, 2023

Butter: crazy run on EU supplies

KEMPTEN/BRUSSELS. Ridiculously low prices have prompted quite a twist in EU butter exports in March. Although shipments to the USA have almost doubled, Singapore has taken the lead for European exporters. Expectation is that the market will turn in Germany.
Fruit and Vegetables
May 24, 2023

Dried lentils: high production estimates

OTTAWA/NEW DELHI. If the current production estimates for 2023 come true, the global lentil crop would record the second highest yield in history. A tender from India has caused surprise in the market.
Fruit and Vegetables
May 3, 2023

Dried lentils: speculation shapes the market

OTTAWA. According to Chelmer Foods, various speculations and rumours are currently doing the rounds in the lentil market. This concerns especially the demand situation in India, but also the price development in Canada and the crop prospects in Europe.
Dried Fruit
May 3, 2023

Dates: first downturn in EU

TEHRAN/BRUSSELS. Ramadan boosted demand for dates in Iran in the first quarter. Demand has thereby taken a most peculiar twist in Turkey. EU imports, however, witnessed a downturn in 2022.
Fruit and Vegetables
Apr 26, 2023

Dried beans: price declines with one exception

BEIJING. Due to low demand, the Chinese market for dried beans has seen some significant price declines - with one exception. The prospect of price increases in the near future is rather slim.
Fruit and Vegetables
Apr 26, 2023

Pulses: export decline to be cushioned

ANKARA. The severe earthquakes that shook Turkey at the beginning of the year have also had an impact on exports of pulses. Massive countermeasures are now to be taken.
Dairy Products
Apr 6, 2023

Butter: Easter fails expectations

KEMPTEN/BRUSSELS. Easter sales for butter have failed to meet expectations in Germany. The EU has, however, reported record exports.
Fruit and Vegetables
Apr 5, 2023

Dried beans: production of black kidney beans declines

BEIJING. As profits for black kidney beans have been low this season, Chinese farmers are likely to increasingly switch to other agricultural commodities. Meanwhile, the mung bean crop in Myanmar is expected to be smaller than last year, which will benefit Chinese traders.
Fruit and Vegetables
Mar 29, 2023

Dried lentils: EU plans to become more independent

OTTAWA/MADRID. The cultivation of pulses, including lentils, is to be significantly expanded in Europe, and many countries are already making arrangements. At the moment, the EU is still heavily dependent on lentil imports, which mainly come from Turkey and Canada.
Dried Fruit
Mar 28, 2023

Dates: shock over export ban

TEHRAN. Reports over an intended export ban for dates over Ramadan sent shockwaves through the market in Iran. Although exporters are emphasising that enough dates are available, there are other issues at stake.
Dried Fruit
Mar 9, 2023

Dates: attractive prices fail to boost exports

TEHRAN. Exchange rate fluctuations have enabled Iran’s date exporters to offer competitive prices this season. Exports for 2022 are, however, roughly on par with 2021.
Fruit and Vegetables
Mar 1, 2023

Dried beans: low buying interest

BEIJING. Growers complain about low demand for most dried beans on the Chinese market, only sales of mung beans are satisfactory. Therefore, there have been some price changes compared to last month.
Fruit and Vegetables
Feb 28, 2023

Pulses: crisis teams look for solutions

ANKARA. The massive earthquakes in Turkey are also having an impact on the market for pulses such as lentils, dried beans and chickpeas. Specially established crisis teams are now to ensure that production can return to full capacity as soon as possible.
Fruit and Vegetables
Feb 1, 2023

Dried beans: traders need to stock up

BEIJING. After the good sales in the course of the Chinese New Year, traders in the bean markets are now forced to replenish the stocks in their warehouses. This should support prices in most cases.
Dairy Products
Jan 26, 2023

Butter: manufacturers are not amused

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. Butter manufacturers in Germany are far from amused with the current price trend. The slide has also continued in the EU and exports to China have declined by more than 30% between January and November 2022.
Dried Fruit
Dec 13, 2022

Dates: growing frustration

TEHRAN. Suppliers are watching with a growing sense of frustration how other countries are gaining a foothold in the Europe with the dates produced in Iran. Trouble are mismanaged branding, packaging and policies, which cost the industry dearly as neighbouring countries tend to reap the profits.
Dairy Products
Dec 9, 2022

Butter: not quite happy with demand

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. Retailers are busy refilling their shelves with butter as pre-Christmas demand has finally kicked in. Suppliers are, however, not quite content with this year’s demand. EU exports could be a lot worse.
Fruit and Vegetables
Dec 1, 2022

Pulses: Turkey increases red lentil exports by 80%

ANKARA. Turkey is one of the leading cultivating countries of pulses such as chickpeas, lentils and dried beans. According to statistics, exports of these products have been significantly lower this year in some cases.
Fruit and Vegetables
Nov 30, 2022

Dried beans: new adzuki bean crop available

BEIJING. The harvest of red adzuki beans has started, but the new crop is slow to reach the markets; some farmers are unwilling to sell at current prices. Meanwhile, prices for black kidney beans have risen noticeably.
Dried Fruit
Nov 17, 2022

Dates: extensive monsoon damage

BUSHEHR. While farmers completed harvesting in Iran’s Bushehr province in October, the current production estimates for dates show that unexpected monsoon rainfalls caused extensive damage. This is, however, not the only problem the market is confronted with.
Fruit and Vegetables
Nov 1, 2022

Dried beans: low demand puts pressure on prices

BEIJING. Although the new crops have now arrived on the markets, there is hardly any buying interest, so prices are declining. Overall, there is little positive to report here at the moment.
Dried Fruit
Oct 27, 2022

Dates: Iranian exports down sharply

TEHRAN. Iranian date exports in the first eight months of 2022 lag behind those of the same period last year in both volume and value. Current export prices, however, have increased in recent weeks.
Dried Fruit
Sep 27, 2022

Dates: optimistic suppliers

AHVAZ. Disaster struck in Iran’s Khuzestan Province last year as only 12% of the Estamaran dates produced here could be exported marking a 50% slump in shipments. With harvesting in full swing suppliers are confident that things will improve this year.
Dairy Products
Sep 27, 2022

Butter: industry gears up for difficult winter

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. With consumers about to spend more time indoors as the weather is switching to autumn the EU dairy industry is closely monitoring the impact of the energy crisis and inflation on milk, cream and butter.
Fruit and Vegetables
Sep 21, 2022

Dried beans: new crop arrives

BEIJING. While the prices for red kidney beans have risen, the opposite is the case for black kidney and adzuki beans. Harvesting is in full swing in China and the new crop is arriving in the market.
Dried Fruit
Sep 13, 2022

Dates: frustrating export season

TEHRAN. Harvesting is well underway in Iran, especially in Kerman Province, where more accurate production estimates have been issued. Exporting dates has, however, turned quite frustrating in recent months.
Fruit and Vegetables
Aug 31, 2022

Dried beans: prices for adzuki beans dropped massively

BEIJING. Prices for Chinese adzuki beans are currently declining sharply, and the situation is similar on the mung bean market. Meanwhile, the new crop of red kidney beans will soon be available.
Dried Fruit
Aug 30, 2022

Dates: slump in exports to Kazakhstan

TEHRAN. Although Kazakhstan ranks among the top five export destinations for Iran’s dates, exports have slumped by 62% in the first six months of the year. Prices have also witnessed a surprising twist.
Dairy Products
Aug 25, 2022

Butter: climate and energy crisis spell disaster

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. Butter producers are growing increasingly worried over the continuing war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and the persistent drought in Europe.
Dried Fruit
Aug 15, 2022

Dates: heavy rainfall causes damage

BUSHEHR. Heavy rainfall in the Iranian growing regions has caused crop damage in the date groves. Market players are now criticising the insurance companies, which by no means cover all damages.
Fruit and Vegetables
Aug 8, 2022

Dried beans: summer is low season

BEIJING. As usual, trading activity on the Chinese dried bean markets has slowed down a bit in the summer, so many prices are also declining. However, the situation is different for adzuki beans.
Dried Fruit
Jul 26, 2022

Dates: World Cup to boost demand

BUSHEHR. Suppliers in Iran’s Bushehr province report that the prospects for this year’s crop could hardly be better, although drought is a concern. The 2022 men’s football World Cup, which will be held in Qatar from 21 November till 18 December, is already impacting demand for dates.
Dairy Products
Jul 11, 2022

Butter: production dips

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. As Europe is suffering from drought, especially in France, Italy and Germany, and the war in Ukraine continues there is little hope that costs will decline. EU butter production has already dipped by nearly 4% between January and April and negotiations are tough.
Dried Fruit
Jul 5, 2022

Dates: great potential

JAHROM. Jahrom county is the production centre for dates in Fars province, which accounts for 13% of Iran’s date output, and the growers here are presently busy pruning. Estimates state that prospects are highly encouraging for this year’s production.
Fruit and Vegetables
Jun 29, 2022

Dried beans: shortage likely to drive up prices

BEIJING. Supply is likely to be tight for some Chinese bean varieties this season, which will also be reflected in prices in the longer term. Heavy rains in southern China are limiting trading activities.
Dried Fruit
Jun 28, 2022

Dates: buyers switch to cheaper varieties

TEHRAN. While exports proved a total disaster in April, May was not much better. Iran only shipped 8,625 mt of dates worth USD 6.450 million overseas last month, which is more than 50% down on April. A curious difference has occurred.
Dried Fruit
Jun 21, 2022

Dates: annoying pests

AHVAZ. Growers will step up spraying in Iran’s Khuzestan’s province this year. Problem is that spider mites tend to create extensive damage as they feed on unripe dates. Producers act quickly as soon as the weather gets warm in late May and are busy securing their palm groves against this and other pests right through until early August.
Fruit and Vegetables
Jun 13, 2022

Dried beans: acreage in China is shrinking

BEIJING. For both red kidney beans and mung beans, Chinese market players expect smaller acreages this year. This is already having an impact on prices.
Dried Fruit
Jun 7, 2022

Dates: 67% slump in exports

TEHRAN. April was an absolute disaster in terms of exports. Iran, in fact, only shipped as little as 17,650 mt of dates worth USD 15.294 million overseas as official customs statistics show. This is a 67% decline on the 53,683 mt shipped in March. At USD 48.325 million, the export value also ranged 68% higher in March.
Dairy Products
May 24, 2022

Butter: expensive gamble

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. Consumers are really confronted with a painful surge in prices as recent data shows. EU butter prices, for instance, soared by more than 70% in April as compared with last year. Dairy farmers are also reeling from high production costs. Although leading processors such as Kerry have stepped up support for farmers, the proposed scheme is a gamble at best.
Dried Fruit
May 20, 2022

Dates: failure to draw on full potential

SHIRAZ. Iran’s date palm groves span an area of 240,000 ha and the country ranks third after Algeria and Saudi Arabia in this respect. Growers produce more than 280,000 mt of dates in Fars Province alone. In terms of table date production the country, however, lags well behind leading producer Saudi Arabia.
Dried Fruit
May 9, 2022

Dates: post-Ramadan hangover

TEHRAN. High prices for dates obviously failed to deter overseas buyers in the first quarter as recently issued export data shows. Exporters are, however, not quite satisfied. While prices surged this year, tides are now turning after Ramadan.
Fruit and Vegetables
May 3, 2022

Dried beans: quality is decisive

BEIJING. Demand on the Chinese dried bean market is slowly recovering, but the price development is strongly dependent on the quality of the goods. Meanwhile, the difficult transport situation seems to be easing further.