In General

Sales and demand across Saudi Arabia have increased as international pilgrims continue arriving in Mecca for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, despite the war.

Market conditions across the Middle East remain volatile, with product availability continuing to fluctuate due to varying vessel arrivals and port clearance delays. Congestion at Jeddah Port persists. Additional delays were experienced this week due to the extended Eid al-Adha public holidays, during which many operations and businesses are closed for almost a week.

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

Lemons

Lemon supply continued to build across the region as additional Southern Hemisphere volumes entered the market. Availability improved further this week, with stable arrivals supporting consistent market coverage.

Harvesting conditions in South Africa improved overall.

Despite increasing supply, lemon prices remained relatively firm due to stable demand across both wholesale and retail sectors.

Oranges

Egyptian Valencia oranges remained widely available across the Middle East market, with pricing trading at mostly stable levels.

Grapes           

Seedless Grapes (Red & Black)

Seedless grape prices remained under pressure this week as older inventory continued to impact overall market quality. Trading activity was moderate, with buyers focusing on fresher arrivals and improved condition fruit.

Seeded Grapes

Red Globe grape supply remained consistent following continued arrivals from Peru. Market availability stayed elevated, resulting in competitive pricing across most wholesale channels. Demand remained stable, supported by regular retail programmes and steady consumption.

Stone Fruit

Plums
Plum trading activity remained stable across the market, with pricing continuing to face pressure on selected varieties due to sustained supply levels. Market movement remained steady, although buyers continued to show preference for premium quality fruit.

Kiwi

Limited volumes of kiwi fruit continue arriving overland from Iran, although quality issues persist. The combination of constrained supply and inconsistent quality may create a small opportunity for Chilean kiwi fruit in the market.

India

Market expected to pick up

The apple market is expected to pick up in the next couple of weeks with less volumes being shipped and also Flash Gala packing coming to an end.

Bangladesh

No report due to Hajj Holiday in Bangladesh.