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Walnuts: EU countries reduce imports from Chile

October 10, 2018 at 9:14 AM , Der AUDITOR
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SANTIAGO DE CHILE The schedule is tight in the Chilean walnut industry. Within the next five years, production is set to rise to 180,000 mt. Suppliers are seeking to move into new export markets.

 

The 5-year plan

Following China and the USA, which rank first and second, Chile and the Ukraine jointly rank third as leading walnut producers. Demand for Chilean walnuts is high. In recent years, the acreage has been steadily expanded, and in five years's time, an anual crop of around 180,000 mt grown on 45,000 ha is expected in Chile. 

Walnuts in shell, Chile (in mt)

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

Production

119,078

119,000

135,000

Import

200

200

200

Export

116,821

116,000

133,000

Domestic consumption

2,500

2,600

2,700

Source: FAS/USDA Gain Report: New Post

High risk of selling large supplies
Between January and July 2018, Chile exported 64,114 mt of inshells, about 13% less than in the same period last year. Although deliveries to Turkey fell by a third from 27,683 mt to 18,448 mt, the country remains the biggest buyer of Chilean walnuts, followed by Italy (6,250 mt) and Germany (6,019 mt).

Chile will have to open up new export markets for its steadily rising production volume in order to achieve the best possible prices without saturating the traditional buyer countries. In 2017/18, Chilean walnut traders had placed great hope in India as an export market. This, however, did not materialise after a rise in import duties from 30% to 100% resulted in two thirds of the previously expected 15,000 mt of walnuts not being delivered.

Nevertheless, market observers remain optimistic. Good production figures for 2018/19 are also expected to raise this season's export potential to 133,000 mt, although only 116,000 mt of walnuts were exported from Chile in 2017/18. 

Offer overview
Traders are offering last season's crop of Ukrainian walnut kernels, 30% light halves from 5.12 EUR/kg EXW Poland, light broken walnuts from the Ukraine are available from 6.65 EUR/kg EXW Germany, and offers are at 6.51 EUR/kg EXW Germany for Chilean walnuts.

Walnut kernel prices (2017 crop)

Product

EUR/kg

30% light halves, EXW Poland

5.12

Broken, light, EXW Germany

6.65

Broken, light, DDP Germany

6.51

Trade sources

 

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