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Prunes: production estimates are unclear

July 7, 2020 at 12:18 PM , Der AUDITOR
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SANTIAGO. Experts expect a significant decline in global prune production in the 2020/2021 season, but there disagreement on the yields of the individual growing countries.

Less production worldwide

According to INC data, global prune production is expected to fall by 11% to 185,694 metric tonnes in 2020/2021. The US crop is estimated at 68,000 metric tonnes, almost 12% less than last year. Meanwhile, market players report that also in Chile less prunes were produced and especially small fruits are already sold out. However, there are uncertainties regarding the crop volume. While the INC published a result of 55,194 metric tonnes (63,194 metric tonnes including overstock supplies from the previous year), other sources speak of a crop of 60,000-65,000 metric tonnes.

Prune production in mt

Country

2019/20

2020/21

Diff.

USA

77,000

68,000

-11.7%

Chile

63,300

55,194

-12.8%

France

40,000

40,000

0.0%

Argentina

18,000

15,000

-16.7%

Serbia

5,000

3,500

-30.0%

Others

5,458

4,000

-26.7%

Total

208,758

185,694

-11.0%

INC Webinar June 2020

Traders empty the warehouses

Between May 2019 and April 2020, Germany imported a total of 9,821 metric tonnes of prunes, about 5% less than in the previous twelve months. While imports from the USA remained stable at 3,763 metric tonnes, imports from Chile decreased by 11.6% to 3,741 metric tonnes. Shipments from France were also about 7% lower compared to last year (455 metric tonnes).

Due to the low demand, traders want to part with their supplies as soon as possible. In the European spot market Chilean prunes, unpitted, 30/40 are traded from EUR 1.25 per kg FCA Spain, while pitted prunes, 40/50 are available from EUR 2.15 per kg FCA Spain.

Prunes

Type, Origin

EUR/kg

unpitted, 30/40, Chile

1.25

pitted, 40/50, Chile

2.15

pitted, 40/50, USA

2.83

FCA Spain

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