Update on the GCC countries

Prices for Bananas have increased by more than 30% due to continued vessel delays and higher demand during Ramadan.

The first shipments of South African lemons, re-exported from Dubai to Saudi Arabia, reached a price of $20.00, while South African Royal Gala reached a price of $30.00.

• Citrus
• Pome
• Grape, Stone & Kiwi Fruit
• India & Bangladesh
• PPECB Statistics

Citrus fruit – South Africa 

In the Northern regions, all growers are beginning with larger volumes of lemons being packed. The colour and quality are looking good, and the fruit is currently peaking in the larger sizes, ranging from count 88 – 138.

Market update

Prices for Egyptian and Turkish lemons have declined due to the poor quality of end-of-season fruit. Consumers are expected to shift towards the new season lemons from South Africa, which is likely to drive up market prices.

Egyptian navel prices have also fallen, and with quality issues, they are expected to finish soon. The cost of Egyptian valencias being shipped to the Middle East is currently below market cost, and Egypt will need to explore additional markets to increase exports of its valencias in the future.

Grapes            

South Africa is at the end of the grape season.

This season is looking promising for grapes in Chile, with favourable conditions for both yield and sizing. The grape industry is forecasting a total of 66.6 million boxes, marking a 3% increase compared to last season.

Market update

There is a limited window of opportunity to supply the market with Red Globe grapes until the 25^th of April, as Egypt and Lebanon will begin their grape harvests at the beginning May. Other countries are unable to compete with the volume and pricing offered by these two regions.

Stone Fruit -South Africa          

Middle East – Export volumes of plums from South Africa to the Middle East have increased by 5% compared to the same period last season.

Market update

The market for Red plums was strong at the start of the season, but with the availability of both Red and Yellow plums, sales have slowed, and prices have dropped. Consumers prefer Red plums over Angelino black plums, only opting for the latter when Red plums are unavailable. When it comes to Angelino black plums, there is a clear preference for those from Chile, due to their lighter, reddish-dark colour, while South African Angelino plums are considered too dark. However, the market still takes Angelino plums from South Africa.

Kiwi fruit

This season, the Iranian kiwi fruit crop is 30% down due to weather conditions. Additionally, with the Indian market re-opening, the Middle East market is unlikely to be flooded with Iranian kiwi fruit. This creates a strong opportunity for Chilean kiwi fruit in the Middle East market. The harvest on Kiwi fruit from Chile is scheduled to start in the third week of March. Current estimates suggest a normal season in terms of volume, size, and quality, with additional new orchards beginning production.

Mangoes -South Africa

No Report

Market update

No Report

India

No report.

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Bangladesh

Fresh fruit imports decline amid high duties and inflation

Imports of fresh fruit in Bangladesh have been steadily declining due to a range of factors, including higher duties, currency devaluation, and inflation. Importers point to the rising taxes on fruits such as apples, oranges, grapes, pears, citrus, and pomegranates as a major reason for the drop in consumption, making these fruits more of a luxury item.