FAS

Posted on by

Fresh table grapes: world demand and production estimates

In its latest report on world markets and trades for deciduous fruit, the FAS also said global trade in fresh table grapes is likely to remain steady at about 2.7 million tons in the 2015/16 marketing year, though both Peru and China are poised to increase their shares.

Global consumption of fresh table grapes is set to rise for the 6th consecutive year, going from just over 15.6 million tons in 2009/10 to an expected 20.9 million tons in 2015/16, amounting to growth of nearly 34%.

China, India, the EU, Turkey and Brazil are the top 5 consumer markets.

Production
Meanwhile, world table grape production is also headed up, by 479,000 tons to 21.1 million in 2015/16, as continued growth in China more than offsets declines in Turkey, according to new projections by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

In its latest report on world markets and trades for deciduous fruit, the FAS also said global trade in fresh table grapes is likely to remain steady at about 2.7 million tons in the 2015/16 marketing year.

Both Peru and China are increasing their shares.

China: is the world’s biggest fresh table grape grower and consumer, accounting for about 46% of both global production and consumption.

China’s production is forecast to jump 800,000 tons to 9.6 million on higher area in 2015/16 and its exports to surge 35,000 tons to 165,000 as lower prices and good quality fruit boost exports to neighboring Asian markets. Imports into China are expected to rise 24,000 tons to 250,000 on higher shipments from top suppliers Chile and Peru.

Chile: the top table grape exporter, with a 27% share of the global market, Chile faces a slight contraction in production to 925,000 tons on continued low yields following last year’s March floods and July snow, which affected orchards in the north.

Before the bad frost of 2013/14, Chile’s production had been above the million ton mark. Its 2015/16 exports are forecast down 10,000 tons to 740,000 on lower exportable supplies.

United States: production is forecast up 29,000 tons to 984,000 on higher yield in California despite drought being a concern for many growers. Exports are forecast to remain flat at 390,000 tons on unchanging demand from top markets Canada and Mexico. Imports are forecast to slip 7,000 tons to 540,000 on lower availability from top supplier Chile, the FAS says.

Peru: production is forecast to rise a modest 10,000 tons to 510,000 as new plantings, driven by strong foreign demand, continue to come into production. Exports are forecast to rise 15,000 tons to 295,000 as market share continues to expand in top markets China and the EU. Peru ranks third after Chile and the US for fresh table grape exports, holding an 11% slice of the world market.

Turkey: is the world’s third biggest fresh table grape grower (and ranks fourth as a consumer) but production is forecast to drop 345,000 tons to 2 million tons as the main growing region of Western Turkey was hit by a spring frost. Exports are forecast to drop 78,000 tons to 179,000 on lower output and reduced shipments to top market Russia, where a ban on certain Turkish imports goes into effect January 1, 2016.

EU: imports into the EU, the world’s number one fresh table grape import market, are projected down slightly to 600,000 tons on stable demand and higher domestic production.

EU production is forecast up 49,000 tons to 1.7 million on increased output in Spain. Despite the Russian ban, exports are expected to remain stable at 105,000 tons on sustained exports to new markets in North Africa and the Middle East.

Russia: imports are forecast to fall 51,000 tons to 250,000 as consumer purchasing power continues to fall, consumption declines, and shipments from Turkey are reduced following Russia’s ban. Russia’s production is forecast down 9,300 tons to 90,000 on reductions in both commercial and household production.

Source: “Fresh Deciduous Fruit: World Markets and Trade (Apples, Grapes, & Pears)” December 2015, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

NB: The United States and Mexico are on a May-April marketing year for table grapes. All other Northern Hemisphere countries are on a June-May marketing year. Southern Hemisphere countries of Argentina, Chile, and New Zealand are on a calendar year indicated as the second year of the split year; South Africa is on an October-September marketing year (adjusted from calendar) on the first year of the split year. Some countries may include raisin-type and/or table-type grapes.

Posted on by

EU set for lower peach, nectarine production this season

A 3.7% drop in EU peach and nectarine production – to 4 million tons – is forecast for 2015/16, while that for cherries is projected at 745,900 tons, remaining flat compared with last season, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

A 3.7% drop in EU peach and nectarine production – to 4 million tons – is forecast for 2015/16, while that for cherries is projected at 745,900 tons, remaining flat compared with last season, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

Despite the Russian embargo, EU-28 exports of peaches and nectarines in 2014/15 grew 16%, while those of fresh cherries fell 10%, a new Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report – the EU-28 Stone Fruit Annual – from FAS says.

Peaches and nectarines

The main EU-28 producers of fresh peaches and nectarines are Italy, Spain, Greece and France. The production area is projected to remain stable in MY 2015/16 with 232,778 ha planted.

The 3.7% drop in MY 2015/16 peach and nectarine production for the EU-28 is due to unfavorable weather, with considerable decreases in the main European producers, Spain, Greece and France, while Italian production shows an increase.

In MY 2015/16 fresh consumption of peaches and nectarines is projected to remain flat reaching 2.8 MMT.

The EU’s exports of peaches and nectarines were valued at 390 million USD in MY 2014/15, a 9% decrease despite 16% higher volume from the previous year. Despite the Russian ban, EU- 28 exports increased in MY 2014/15 by reorienting the markets. The 12% decrease of exports to Russia were compensated with an increase of exports to other M.S. and to new markets such as North of Africa as Algeria and Brazil.

The main supplier of peaches to the EU-28 in MY 2014/15 was South Africa. Chile used to be the main supplier of peaches and nectarines to the EU-28 but in MY 2014/15 imports coming from Chile declined 60% resulting with South Africa and Morocco as main suppliers to the EU-28.

Due to lower production forecasts in MY 2015/16 imports may increase.

Cherries

The main EU-28 producers of fresh cherries are Poland, Italy, and Spain.

Spain is the biggest exporter due to its early season harvest and Italy the number one consumer of fresh cherries.

Total cherry production in MY 2015/16 is projected at 745,900 MT, remaining flat compared with last season, where the important growth in Italy and Greece could compensate the decline that may occur in Spain.

Consumption of fresh cherries in the EU is estimated at 443,023 MT in MY 2015/16, remaining stable.

The EU is a net exporter of cherries but with trade values almost balanced. These are sourced mostly from Turkey, the world’s leading cherry producer. While the main destinations for the major EU producers are other MS, the most important external destinations are Russia, Switzerland and Belarus.

New markets, such as Algeria, are showing important growth for the second year in a row surpassing Ukraine, the report said.

Source: EU-28 Stone Fruit Annual

Posted on by

Turkish farm exports still surging

turkey-219694_1280

 

Turkey’s exports of fruit increased by a third and vegetables by 9% in the four years to 2013, according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The country is now a major exporter of agricultural products, both to the Middle East and other markets, it said in its report “Turkish Agricultural Exports Continue to Surge“.

Turkey’s farm exports have tripled in the last decade and were valued at more than $16 billion in 2013. It now comes after only India, China and Ukraine in terms of the highest export growth rates among the world’s top 20 agricultural exporters.

Middle East a major motor for Turkey’s export growth

Although the EU-28 remains Turkey’s largest export market, nearly all of Turkey’s growth in trade has been to developing countries, especially those in the Middle East, FAS said.

Iraq: In 2013, nearly a quarter of Turkey’s agricultural exports went to Iraq. Exports there more than doubled in just three years – from $1.5 billion in 2010 to $3.5 billion in 2013 – led by vegetable oil, flour, poultry and chicken eggs.

Syria: The turmoil in Syria has also increased its import demand. Turkish agricultural exports to Syria quadrupled in 2013, and rose another 50% in the first half of 2014.

Russia: Turkish exports to Russia, in particular, have been strengthening and could increase even more this year in light of Russia’s year-long ban on a wide range of agricultural products from the EU, United States, Canada, Australia, and Norway.

Africa: Turkish exports to Sub-Saharan Africa have also skyrocketed.

Turkish export growth.png

Turkey exports via usda 181214.png

Read the report here.

 

Posted on by

Mexico expects stronger avocado exports in 2014/2015

640px-Hass_avocado_-white_background

 

Modest growth will bring Mexico’s Hass avocado production to 1.5 million tons for the 2014/2015 marketing year (MY), according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

Growers estimate the country’s avocado exports will also increase, to about 700,000 tons, though this could end up being higher as world prices are expected to be lower, FAS said in its recent Mexico Avocado Annual report.

Mexico exports avocados to 21 countries but its top markets are the US (accounting for the vast majority), Japan, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and France.

 

 

Michoacán grows most of Mexico’s ‘green gold’

The state of Michoacán, in western Mexico, is the world leader in avocado production, growing 85% of Mexico’s avocado crop. Most avocado production in this avocado belt takes place in small orchards of just 5–10ha.

The vast majority of the export business is managed directly by packers, many of whom have significant US investment. Growers in Michoacán generally sell their fruit on the spot market to a packer in terms of pesos/kg.

Overall yields in Mexico for MY 2014/15 are forecast between 8.9–9.1 MT/ha but yields  of 15–20 MT/ha are expected in the state of Jalisco, which is

planting at higher tree densities and using advanced management technologies.

Due to plant health concerns, Michoacán is currently the only state in Mexico authorized to export Hass avocados to the US. USDA /APHIS registration of authorized pest-free municipalities is required for producers to export to the US.

 

State of Michoacán within Mexico

 

 

Attractive prices for consumers in 2014/15

Export prices were higher than expected in 2014/15. In March 2014, two-layer cartons of Hass 48s from Mexico were reported at prices of $36.25-38.25, up from $31.25-32.25 at the same time in 2013. Prices were higher because California could not supply avocados at the time, and Mexico had some shipping issues.

“Prices for MY 2014/15 began at lower levels and are expected to remain attractive for consumers as the domestic crop is expected to be good,” FAS said.

 

 

 

Click here to read the Mexico Avocado Annual report by FAS

Click here to see photo source
Click here to see source of map showing Michoacán