Walnuts: March exports slightly up
April 14, 2022 at 12:22 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Total exports continue to lag behind
Since the beginning of this season, around 228,875 mt of shelled and unshelled walnuts have been exported from the USA, 25% less than in the same period last year. Domestic shipments fell by 8% to 56,759 mt, while exports actually declined by almost a third from 242,000 mt to 172,115 mt.
In March 2022, however, export volumes increased by 4% to 28,319 mt, while domestic shipments fell by 15% to 7,494 mt. Among others, important European customer countries such as Germany (+28% to 5,242 mt), Spain (+22% to 22,98 mt) and Italy (+39% to 1,514 mt) significantly increased their imports last month.
|
US walnut shipments, in mt |
|||
|
Destination |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
Diff. |
|
Europe |
74,525 |
74,296 |
0% |
|
North America |
67,835 |
62,051 |
-9% |
|
Africa/Middle East |
100,301 |
52,507 |
-48% |
|
Asia/Pacific Rim |
57,065 |
37,437 |
-34% |
|
Central/South America |
180 |
110 |
-39% |
|
Others |
3,464 |
2,474 |
-29% |
|
Total |
303,369 |
228,875 |
-25% |
|
California Walnuts; since the start of the season |
|||
Price trend moving upwards
According to market players, light-coloured walnut kernels with a higher proportion of halves are currently in particular demand, which has led to firmer prices for these qualities, as the majority of the 2021 US crop consisted of darker kernels. In addition, delivery delays are causing stocks in the European spot market to shrink. Meanwhile, the comparatively high prices for the new crop from Chile are causing less buying interest, leading to a stalemate. It remains to be seen whether buyers or sellers will give in first.
|
Walnuts |
|
|
Type |
EUR/kg |
|
Chandler, LHP 20%, USA |
5.60 |
|
Chandler, LHP 80%, USA |
6.85 |
|
Chandler, ELHP 80%, Chile |
7.75 |
|
Type 185, shelled, ELHP 90%, China |
5.90 |
|
XIN2, inshell, +32 mm, China |
2.80 |
|
FCA Spain |
|
EU imports up in 2021
Contrary to the current trend, EU states had imported a total of 103,454 mt of unshelled walnuts from third countries in the past calendar year, about 7% more than the year before. With 50,804 mt, almost half of the imported quantity came from the US. This was followed by Chile, Ukraine, China and Moldova. The trade data for walnut kernels within the EU show that re-exporters such as Germany and the Netherlands lead the way in exports, with producing countries such as Romania and France following in third and fourth place.
|
EU walnut* imports from third countries, in mt |
|||
|
Supplier |
2020 |
2021 |
Diff. |
|
USA |
46,024 |
50,804 |
10.4% |
|
Chile |
19,356 |
21,235 |
9.7% |
|
Ukraine |
14,816 |
18,005 |
21.5% |
|
China |
4,670 |
6,396 |
37.0% |
|
Moldova |
8,128 |
4,952 |
-39.1% |
|
Uzbekistan |
71 |
443 |
523.9% |
|
Australia |
186 |
330 |
77.4% |
|
Others |
3,678 |
1,289 |
-65.0% |
|
Total |
96,929 |
103,454 |
6.7% |
|
European Commission *08023200 Fresh or dried walnuts, shelled |
|||
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