Update on the market in the GCC countries. 

The overall market is very unpredictable this season on most commodities, and there isn’t the usual pattern of sales and price levels compared to the same period last season and previous seasons.

Stone fruit from Jordan and Iran is available in the market at low price levels. Spain and Greece can’t compete at these levels.

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

Citrus fruit – South Africa 

The South African citrus crop on Oranges has been further reduced, with the latest projected volume of Valencias expected to be 51,6 million down compared to 58 million cartons, the original estimate. This is a 11% reduction from the first estimate.

The estimated Navel crop has been reduced to a projected volume of 21 million cartons compared to 25.7 million cartons, the original estimate. This is a significant drop of 19%.

This drop is due to the severe weather conditions, as areas up North was affected with severe frost and freezing cold weather, while the Western Cape had flooding and storms and the Eastern Cape high winds.

The frost in some of the colder Northern regions has affected slightly more of the Nadorcott crop than was anticipated. The crop that has been affected by frost is being picked and sent to the juice factories. 

There is currently a high demand from Russia, China, USA and EU markets for Nadorcotts.

Market update

For citrus, the market is only stable for Lemons from South Africa, however Navels and Valencias are not stable and the sales rate is very slow. Soft Citrus is a disaster with the oversupply in the market especially on Nova and Leanri varieties, with slow sales and a sharp decline in price levels week by week and especially in Dubai market.

Grapes -South Africa             

No report.

Market update                        

No report.

Stone Fruit -South Africa and Chile            

No report.

Cherries  

No report.

Mangoes

No report.

Market update

No report.

Kiwi fruit – Market update 

Kiwi fruit from Chile remains stable and selling between $28.50 – $29.35 in Saudi Arabia and Dubai $26.00.

The first loading from Iran to the Middle East should be around the last week of September. Kiwi fruit from Greece will be dependent on price. If the price is too high, Greece will not be able to compete with Iran in the market.

India

Orange shipments increase

Orange shipments to India are 80% higher than last season at unsustainable prices. The fruit will get stuck in the chain and not move easily causing pressure on pricing for the importers. We can just hope that volumes decrease soon as Europe is empty and prices have increased significantly.

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Bangladesh

Market prices affected

Everything is returning to normal after the national internet shutdown last week. The port is operational again and all the containers are being cleared. But due to the fruit being cleared at the same time, it’s creating an oversupply in the market, that again has an affect on the market selling prices.