Prunes: experts confirm US crop forecast
July 25, 2024 at 4:31 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Growers on guard
In recent days, temperatures in California have reached around 40°C and the weather forecast predicts further hot spells. These extremely high temperatures pose particular problems for Californian plum growers. Nevertheless, the Chairman of the California Prune Board (CPB), Donn Zea, is confident about this year's crop. Good growing conditions over the past two seasons and sufficient acreage provided good foundations for production. In their recently published report, the CPB experts once again confirmed the estimates published in May during the International Nut and Dried Fruit Congress; California should be able to achieve a prune production of 65,000 mt this year. Growers are keeping an eye on their plantations in order to take the necessary measures immediately and reduce possible damage caused by the heat.
EU imports down by almost 12%
Since the beginning of this year (1 January - 21 July 2024), 20,529 mt of prunes have been imported into the EU, a decrease of 11.7% compared to the same period last year. At 11,004 mt, more than 50% of the import volume came from Chile, even though shipments remained in deficit year-on-year. Imports from countries such as the USA (-14.2% to 2,753 mt), Serbia (-43.5% to 1,199 mt) and Uzbekistan (-69.2% to 679 mt) also declined. Meanwhile, shipments from Moldova (+10.1% to 2,372 mt), Argentina (+20.5% to 1,794 mt) and Turkey (+12.3% to 457 mt) increased year-on-year. The main buyers within the EU were Poland (+6.1% to 3,290 mt), Italy (+96.2% to 3,080 mt), Spain (-9.7% to 2,870 mt) and Germany (-42.3% to 2,390 mt).
|
EU prune imports, in mt |
|||
|
Supplier |
2023 |
2024 |
Diff. |
|
Chile |
11,427 |
11,004 |
-3.7% |
|
USA |
3,208 |
2,753 |
-14.2% |
|
Moldova |
2,154 |
2,372 |
10.1% |
|
Argentina |
1,451 |
1,749 |
20.5% |
|
Serbia |
2,122 |
1,199 |
-43.5% |
|
Uzbekistan |
2,207 |
679 |
-69.2% |
|
Turkey |
407 |
457 |
12.3% |
|
EU |
1 |
81 |
9.031.9% |
|
Others |
277 |
235 |
-15.2% |
|
Total |
23,254 |
20,529 |
-11.7% |
|
DG AGRI TAXUD Customs Surveillance System, 01/01-21/07 08132000 Dried prunes |
|||
View more
- price charts
View related articles
