Market updates on a whole range of agri-food products with up-to-date price trends
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.
Dairy Products
Apr 26, 2022

Butter: consumers are not impressed

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. Consumers have not been deterred by high butter prices in Germany so far after several discounters including Aldi and Lidl raised prices in April. Although average EU butter prices range 70% higher than last year, this has failed to impress exports.
Dried Fruit
Apr 22, 2022

Dates: unsustainable prices

TEHRAN. Ramadan typically boosts demand for dates, especially in Iran where 40% of consumption takes place during Ramadan. This uptick in demand also has an impact on prices. Traders, however, reckon that the current prices are anything but sustainable.
Dried Fruit
Apr 14, 2022

Dates: Ramadan drives up prices

TEHRAN. Due to the Ramadan festivities, prices for Iranian dates have risen in recent weeks. Exports, meanwhile, are slightly down.
Fruit and Vegetables
Apr 4, 2022

Dried beans: supply difficulties impact trading in China

BEIJING. Transportation coupled with staff shortages are an issue in China and measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 have excacerbated the problem. This has also impacted trading with kidney, mung and adzuki beans.
Dairy Products
Apr 4, 2022

Butter: Aldi lifts prices by 30%

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. No, discount supermarket chain Aldi did not play an April Fools’ trick on Friday by announcing that consumers in Germany will have to pay 30% more for butter. Trouble is that prices for milk and dairy products are skyrocketing, which is not only driven by inflation in general but also by the war in Ukraine. EU feed and energy costs have surged by 15% in the past four weeks as DG Agri and DG Energy report.
Dried Fruit
Mar 22, 2022

Dates: Egypt increases production by 27%

REUS/CAIRO. At 140,000 mt, Egypt's date production in the 2021/22 season is a good 27% higher than last year. However, Saudi Arabia remains the undisputed number one.
Dried Fruit
Mar 18, 2022

Dates: dust storms disrupt pollination

BANDAR BUSHEHR. Pollination has started in Bushehr’s palm groves, where farmers harvest 174,000 mt of dates every year. While pollination normally continues until late March, things are different this year. Issue is that dust storms are causing problems.
Dried Fruit
Mar 11, 2022

Dried figs: buyers switch from Turkey to Iran

TEHRAN. With China back in the market again and the economic crisis unfolding in Turkey demand for dried figs has shifted to Iran. Recent export figures certainly show a clear trend. These are, however, not the only issues fuelling demand at present.
Dried Fruit
Mar 4, 2022

Dried figs: high hopes

TEHRAN. According to the Ministry of Agriculture Iran produces 96,274 mt of fresh figs on 60,250 ha. Fars province accounts for more than 85% of the area in which Iran’s figs are cultivated, this is also where most dried figs are produced. The market is closely following the talks over a possible revival of the nuclear deal as this directly impacts prices.
Dried Fruit
Mar 3, 2022

Dates: suppliers urged to improve food safety

TEHRAN. International trade not only presents many chances but also challenges for Iran’s date market. Traders urge growers, sellers and distributors as well as shipping companies and exporters to pay more attention to food health standards as nothing less than the future of the entire market is at stake.
Fruit and Vegetables
Mar 1, 2022

Dried beans: low demand and price discussions

BEIJING. Chinese market players report that the trade of dried beans is rather sluggish on both the domestic and export markets. In addition, there are disagreements on prices.
Dried Fruit
Feb 15, 2022

Dried figs: China drives exports

TEHRAN. Iran exported 903 mt of figs worth USD 2.735 million in January. Average export prices ranged at USD 3.03/kg. At 878 mt worth USD 2.644 million dried figs had a lion’s share in these volumes.
Dried Fruit
Feb 2, 2022

Dried figs: high demand causes prices to rise

TEHRAN. Good export demand has helped Iranian exports to increase year-on-year. Prices on the world market are also rising steadily.
Dried Fruit
Feb 2, 2022

Dates: considerable export increases

TEHRAN. Iranian customs statistics show that date exports increased significantly in 2021 compared to the previous year. Prices are also rising in the wake of Ramadan preparations.
Dairy Products
Jan 28, 2022

Butter: high demand presents challenges

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. Milk deliveries still range below normal levels in France and Germany. Prospects are far from encouraging as energy and feed costs continue to rise. This issue presents a problem for butter manufacturers, especially since international demand is high.
Dried Fruit
Jan 18, 2022

Dates: 25% are destined for export

TEHRAN. A quarter of this year's Iranian date production is to be exported; this is expected to generate high foreign exchange earnings. However, exporters are confronted with demanding standards.
Fruit and Vegetables
Jan 17, 2022

Dried beans: dull markets due to Chinese New Year

BEIJING. Chinese market players report sluggish sales and little movement on the markets; the focus is already on the period after the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated from 1 February.
Dairy Products
Jan 14, 2022

Butter: highly uncompetitive EU prices

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. Although milk deliveries are unusually low in many producing countries, the current market situation does spell some good news for butter manufactures. Prices in Europe are, however, exceptionally high. This has impacted EU exports.
Dried Fruit
Dec 21, 2021

Dates: production ranges lower

ZAHEDAN. Drought and extreme heat have certainly impacted this year’s date production in Iran’s Sistan va Baluchestan Province. Growers mainly cultivate Mazafati and Rabbi dates here, which are particularly popular with buyers in Europe. Traders emphasise that the Rabbi dates grown in Saravan are superior in quality.
Dairy Products
Dec 9, 2021

Butter: supplies are the issue

FRANKFURT/BRUSSELS. The price hike for butter and other dairy products continues in Europe as buyers are confronted with low supplies. Supplies are, in fact, the issue as milk deliveries dip to their seasonal low. Customers are trying to secure contracts that run until well beyond the next six months.
Fruit and Vegetables
Dec 6, 2021

Dried beans: price increases for many varieties

BEIJING. In the Chinese market, prices for black kidney beans, adzuki beans and mung beans remain firm with an upward trend. Exports of red kidney beans, however, have declined.
Dried Fruit
Nov 25, 2021

Dates: exporters stay cautious

TEHRAN. Iranian exporters are keeping a close eye on possible changes in the law that could even completely stop the export of agricultural products. They already had to deal with such problems in 2018.