Prunes: optimistic outlook for production in 2022

January 27, 2022 at 2:07 PM , Der AUDITOR
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SANTIAGO. In Chile, prune production will start soon and the prospects for the new crop are still good. Nevertheless, many traders are refraining from making offers at the moment.

No carry-over stocks

Prunes for fresh consumption have already been harvested in Chile for a few weeks. Market players report that China has particularly high demand for large plums this year, which could affect the availability of large prunes. The USA also sources 99% of its plum imports from Chile. In the coming weeks, Chilean growers will start harvesting and producing prunes. Currently, the outlook is good and the 2022 prune production is estimated at 65,000-70,000 mt, which is an average result. However, there are no carry-over stocks from the 2021 crop this year. However, after heavy rains damaged the quality of fruit laid out to dry last year, traders are very cautious and are not offering the new crop for now. There are no significant positions from the previous year at origin and prices are rising in the European spot market. Both Chilean and Argentinian prunes, unpitted, 30/40 are currently being offered here for EUR 4.25/kg FCA Spain.

Prunes

Type, origin

EUR/kg

Unpitted, 30/40, Argentina/France

4.25

Pitted, 40/50, France

5.20

Unpitted, 30/40, Chile

4.25

Pitted, 40/50, Chile

5.15

FCA Spain

Germany's imports still significantly behind previous year

Germany imported a total of 2,035 mt of prunes in the first three months of the 2021/2021 season (Sep-Nov), around 45% less than in the same period of the previous year. With 981 mt, Chile was still in first place, but the difference compared to the same period last year is -42%. Shipments from the USA (-71%), France (-34%) and the Netherlands (-34%) also dropped considerably. In contrast, imports from Turkey increased by 465% to 96 mt.

Prune* imports, Germany, in mt

Country

2020/21

2021/22

Diff.

Chile

1,684

981

-41.7%

USA

1,115

323

-71.0%

Netherlands

360

239

-33.6%

France

218

119

-45.4%

Turkey

17

96

464.7%

Others

285

277

-2.8%

Total

3,679

2,035

-44.7%

Federal Statistical Office of Germany / Sep-Nov

*08132000 Dried prunes

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