Dried Fruit

Prunes: Russia outranks USA

August 16, 2023 at 9:31 AM , Der AUDITOR
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SANTIAGO/MADRID. Chile’s exports of prunes have surged to China and Germany. Curiously, Russia has also become more important than the US for Chile in the first half of 2023.

Exports to China soar

Chile exported 25,617 mt of prunes worth USD 104 million to 67 countries around the globe in the first half of 2023. This is 35% up in terms of volume and 40% up in terms of value on the 18,991 mt worth USD 74.4 million exported in the same period in 2022. According to Chileprunes the growth is driven by ample stocks and the 2022 bumper crop. The fruits are also bigger in size this year. China is the most important export destination.

Shipments to China, in fact, more than tripled on the 1,540 mt worth USD 5.14 million registered in January to June 2022. Exports to Germany have also soared this year and Mexico ranks third. While the US ranked as most important export destination in the first six months of 2022, the country now only ranks eight, after Russia. Shipments to Russia slumped after the country started its aggressive war in Ukraine in February 2022, but buying has picked up again this year. As 12,550 ha are planted with plum trees Chile has an annual production capacity of 100,000 mt, of which around 60,000 mt are dried and processed into prunes.

Prune exports, Chile, Jan-Jun 2023

Destination

mt

USD

China

5,817

19,042,411

Germany

3,455

15,861,489

Mexico

2,360

8,691,641

Poland

2,049

7,669,752

Spain

1,336

6,071,732

UK

949

3,761,104

Russia

937

3,760,671

USA

929

8,908,786

Italy

810

3,615,587

Australia

714

3,271,911

Others

6,261

237,083,053

Total

25,617

104,438,137

Office of Agrarian Studies and Policies (Odepa) Chilean Ministry of Agriculture

Fixed prices in Europe

The prices for dried plums and plums have remained fixed in Europe in recent weeks. Prunes from Chile, size 40/50, are trading at USD 7.13/kg (EUR 6.94/kg) and pitted plums, size 30/40, at USD 4.77 (EUR 4.65/kg) CIF Spain.

Dried plums and prunes

Type

USD/kg

EUR/kg

Plums, unpitted, 30/40, Chile

4.93

4,80

Plums, pitted, 30/40, Chile

4.77

4,65

Prunes, 40/50, Chile

7.13

6.94

CIF Spain

 

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