Pistachios: India is not the only highlight

June 22, 2023 at 11:26 AM , Der AUDITOR
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FRESNO/LONDON. India is not the only highlight when it comes to US pistachio exports. Turkey is also buying like mad this season. Prospects are highly encouraging for the new crop.

Exports save the day

Monthly domestic shipments gained on last year in May for the first time since the season started in September as the inventory report issued by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (ACP) shows. This means that total domestic shipments are now only lagging 5% behind last year at 185 million pounds. Domestic shipments, in fact, climbed to 21 million pounds in May 2023 as opposed to 18 million pounds in May 2022. At 63 million pounds monthly exports ranged higher than last year for the sixth month running. Monthly exports exceeded last year’s 50 million pounds by 25% in May. Year-to-date exports have reached 501 million pounds, which is 18% up on last year’s 423 million pounds.

China remains the most important export destination for US pistachios, followed by Turkey and Germany. Shipments to Turkey have, in fact, more than doubled. India even tripled imports from the US and growth can be seen in nearly all top ten export destinations with the noted exceptions of China, Germany and Spain.

US pistachio exports (1,000 pounds)

Destination

2021/22

2022/23

Diff.

China

129,066

126,518

-2.0%

Turkey

23,681

48,907

106.5%

Germany

54,924

40,747

-25.9%

India

9,914

30,263

205.2%

Vietnam

13,127

21,464

63.5%

Hong Kong

17,615

21,157

20.1%

Italy

10,117

19,590

93.6%

UAE

7,106

19,094

68.7%

Spain

21,003

18,854

-10.3%

Saudi Arabia

11,799

16,024

35.8%

Others

124,329

138,416

11.3%

Total

422,681

501,034

18.5%

Administrative Committee for Pistachios, 01/09-31/05

Production to rise by 37%

Estimates presented at the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Congress in May also indicate that global production is set to rise by 37% to more than 1 million mt. Not only is the US crop expected to range 47% higher in 2023/2024 than in 2022/2023 but production in Iran should also rebound by 89%. At 1,238 million mt global supplies will range 17% higher than in the current season.

Conditions have been excellent in California so far and the fruit sets appear to be good as reports state. Only worry are potential rains that may delay harvesting. After falling to a low in February prices have recovered in Iran. They also gained considerable support in the first week of June. Although exchange rate fluctuations and other political factors largely dominate export prices here, rises in the run-up to the arrival of the new crop in September have been observed in recent years.

Global pistachio production, in-shell basis, in mt

Country

2022/23

2023/24

Diff

USA

401,039

590,000

47.1%

Iran

106,000

200,000

88.7%

Turkey

200,000

190,000

-5.0%

Syria

19,500

25,500

30.8%

Greece

10,000

7,000

-30.0%

Spain

3,000

4,500

50.0%

Afghanistan

2,360

2,500

5.9%

Australia

3,650

1,400

-61.7%

Italy

1,200

1,200

0%

China

600

500

-16.7%

Total

747,349

1,022,600

36.8%

Iran Pistachio Association, Greek Nuts & Fruits Trade Association, Australia Pistachio Growers’ Association, European Pistachio Council, China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export Foodstuffs and other INC sources, INC May 2023

 

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