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Walnuts: price slump in Moldova

February 1, 2022 at 12:32 PM , Der AUDITOR
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CHIȘINĂU. Prices have slumped in Moldova and expectations are that further declines are in store for the walnut market. Although demand in Europe is still rather subdued, this is about to change, but buyers are not exactly happy with the prices on offer for US walnuts. In Germany, the USA has, however, gained market shares from Chile.

Prices range USD 1.00/kg higher than in December

After remaining fixed for weeks on end the prices for walnut kernels have now slumped in Moldova. Prices declined by around USD 0.55/kg last week alone as traders report. Yet, it should be noted that prices still range higher than at the start of the season in October and haven even risen by USD 1.00/kg on January 2021 as EastFruit reports.

Issue is that the Moldovan leu declined sharply against the US dollar and the euro and that demand is low in Europe and in Turkey. Traders expect prices to decline further. While suppliers used to ship most low quality walnuts to Turkey or the Balkan States, this is no longer the case now. High quality nuts are mainly consumed in the domestic market and retail prices range nearly twice as high as exporters are prepared to pay according to EastFruit. Demand still needs to revive in Europe and traders expect this to be the case soon. Rumour has it that the buyers here are not quite satisfied with the prices on offer for US walnuts and may look for alternatives very soon.

Walnuts

Sorte

EUR/kg

USD(kg

Chandler, ELHP 80%, Chile, hand cracked

8.55

9.32

Chandler, LHP 20%, USA

6.20

6.77

Chandler, inshell, 30-32 mm, Chile

2.55

2.95

Howard, inshell, jumbo, USA

2.50

2.75

Type 185, shelled, ELHP 90%, China

6.10

6.61

80% white halves, Moldova

7.50

8.34

White pieces, Moldova

6,45

7.21

40% light halves, Ukraine

6,45

7.21

FCA Spain

USA gains market shares from Chile

Shipments to Germany declined by 7.2% between September and November as compared with the same period in 2020. The USA has certainly gained market shares from Chile, which remains the main supplier for Germany. Shipments from Moldova also declined sharply by nearly 56%.

Walnut imports to Germany in mt

Country of origin

2020/21

2021/22

Diff.

Chile

4,467

3,557

-20.4%

USA

2,147

2,699

25.7%

China

633

758

19.7%

Netherlands

320

329

2.8%

Ukraine

241

314

30.3%

Austria

132

198

50.0%

Moldova

375

166

-55.7%

France

154

113

-26.6%

Romania

151

90

-40.4%

Others

305

61

-80.0%

Total

8,925

8,285

-7.2%

Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Sep-Nov

*08023200 Walnuts, shelled

 

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