Prunes: favourable conditions for the new crop in Chile
October 6, 2026 at 8:55 AM ,
Der AUDITOR
A rainy winter
Chilean prune suppliers report stable export demand. However, market players are increasingly focusing on the development of the 2027 crop, as the experts at Chelmer Foods note in their latest report. Weather conditions are extremely favourable. The El Niño weather phenomenon has brought a particularly wet winter to Chile, which has benefited water reserves. These are therefore ideal conditions for the development of the orchards in spring and summer. Plum trees have now entered their annual flowering period. Whilst it is still too early to make forecasts for the new crop, the outlook is certainly good at the moment.
The market for 2026 has so far been characterised by comparatively stable demand and prices at the upper end of the trading range. According to industry estimates, around 90% of the season’s available volumes are already tied up in contracts. By the end of August, around half of the crop had been exported. This is providing further support for prices. According to the report by Chelmer Foods, medium-sized prunes are currently in particularly high demand, and the brisk buying interest has led to supply shortages for certain sizes. Buyers with specific requirements for their goods must therefore be prepared for supply to decline as the season progresses. Where possible, buyers should be flexible and open to alternatives.
Higher prices for Chilean prunes
On the European spot market, prices for Chilean Elliot prunes were most recently at EUR 3.23/kg EXW Poland, representing an increase of around EUR 0.10/kg since the beginning of September. Meanwhile, Moldovan prunes, 40/50 with stone, are quoted at EUR 2.25/kg FCA Netherlands.
EU imports down by 7%
Between 1 January 2026 and 27 September 2026, EU countries imported a total of 27,449 mt (-7% year-on-year) of prunes, worth EUR 102.776 million (+6% year-on-year). The average import price, at 3.74 EUR/kg, was significantly higher than the previous year’s level of EUR 3.29/kg.
Whilst shipments from Chile rose by 7% year-on-year to 18,152 mt, imports from countries such as the USA (-10% to 2,780 mt) and Moldova (-2% to 2,046 mt), and, in particular, from Argentina (-26% to 1,833 mt) and Serbia (-64% to 719 mt), failed to match the previous year’s figures.
The main buyers within the EU were Poland (+40% to 6,090 mt) and Germany (-31% to 4,190 mt), as well as Spain (-0.3% to 3,980 mt) and Italy (+18% to 3,900 mt).
|
EU prune imports, in mt |
|||
|
Partner |
2025 |
2026 |
Diff. |
|
Chile |
16,961 |
18,152 |
7.0% |
|
USA |
3,071 |
2,780 |
-9.5% |
|
Moldova |
2,092 |
2,046 |
-2.2% |
|
Argentina |
2,468 |
1,833 |
-25.7% |
|
Uzbekistan |
1,268 |
1,026 |
-19.1% |
|
Serbia |
2,000 |
719 |
-64.1% |
|
Others |
1,521 |
893 |
-41.3% |
|
Total |
29,381 |
27,449 |
-6.6% |
|
DG AGRI TAXUD Customs Surveillance System, 01/01-27/09 08132000 Dried prunes |
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