Pecans: significantly larger crop in South Africa

July 20, 2022 at 4:43 PM , Der AUDITOR
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REUS/MEXICO CITY. In its recently published production estimates, the INC predicts that global pecan availability will grow. South Africa, in particular, can show a notable increase, but there are also other winners.

Mexico remains most important producer

As the latest data from the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) show, Mexico will remain the most important producing country for pecans in the 2022/23 season. However, the severe drought is causing problems for growers. Recently published data from the US customs authorities show that the 2021 crop was larger than expected, but well below the record level of 2020. No confirmed figures for 2021 are yet available from Mexico itself; the INC is currently reckoning just under 132,000 mt. Initial estimates for 2022 are 149,687 mt, which would represent an increase of more than 13% over the previous year.

As reported by the INC, the Tri-State Growers Association released initial estimates for the 2022 US crop during its annual meeting. It forecasts a crop of 139,254 mt, a one-fifth increase over the 2021 crop volume. Growing conditions are favourable and, barring unforeseen events, the quality of the nuts is also expected to be good.

Inshell pecan production, in mt

Country

2021/22

2022/23

Diff.

Mexico

131,996

149,687

13.4%

USA

115,803

139,254

20.3%

South Africa

19,112

27,000

41.3%

Brazil

6,000

6,000

0.0%

China

4,000

4,000

0.0%

Australia

3,411

2,950

-13.5%

Others

5,500

5,500

0.0%

Total

285,822

334,391

17.0%

INC, July 2022

Volume in South Africa and Australia could double

South Africa is also expecting a good crop result for the 2022/23 season, which at 27,000 mt could be more than 41% higher than last year. In the last three years, weather extremes had repeatedly messed up the growers' business. As the area under cultivation continues to grow steadily, the INC experts expect production to double in the next eight years and reach more than 50,000 mt.

In Australia, the crop is expected to decline by 13.5% this year, but the outlook for the future looks better. Domestic demand is steadily increasing and an additional 2,000 ha of pecan trees have been planted since 2019, so the INC expects the crop to double by 2030.

Overall, the global crop for the 2022/23 season is expected to be 17% higher than the previous season, according to the INC. Prices on the European spot market have increased slightly compared to last month and are at 13.65 EUR/kg FCA Spain for Fancy Junior Mammoth Halves, origin USA.

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