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Prunes: supplies are shrinking

November 11, 2021 at 10:48 AM , Der AUDITOR
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SACRAMENTO/SANTIAGO. The supply of Chilean prunes is running low and stocks are also declining on the spot markets. Meanwhile, the NASS has published the latest trade data.

Stocks are shrinking

After this year's low crop, only a few containers are still available in Chile, so further quantities can still be obtained via middlemen. In the European spot market, supply is also declining noticeably; in particular, larger dried plums, pitted, 30/40 are currently still available for EUR 5.05/kg FCA Spain.

Market players could therefore face a tough six months before the new crop is available on the market in spring 2022 and contract shipments have to be fulfilled. In addition, traders expect high starting prices for the coming crop. Californian goods are hardly an alternative this year, prices are high here too and the crop cannot keep up with the last few years, either.

Variety distribution of US prunes

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service has published its latest projection for the 2020 crop, which is based on trade data between growers and processors. This serves as the basis for the final indication of the production volume in the 2020/2021 season. The data make it clear that trade and thus also the production of Californian prunes has shrunk massively in recent years. For this year's crop, experts are forecasting an increase to 68,000 mt, but it is not yet clear whether this quantity could be achieved. The quality of the fruit is reportedly convincing, the prunes are large and pleasantly sweet.

Total acquisitions of US prunes, in mt

Variety

2020

2019

2018

2017

French

51,914

78,815

78,901

93,653

Non-French

1,341

977

780

866

Total

53,254

79,792

79,681

94,520

NASS State Summary 2021

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