Market situation in the Northern Hemisphere, week 49, 2010

Apricot

In North America, more ocean arrivals are expected in the U.S. during next week. In Mexico, most of the supply was small sizes.

Avocado

In Latin America, Argentina maintains a stable market, while Chile foresees an improvement in sales activity for the holidays.

In Europe, sales remain slow and the supply is still affected by the cold wave in the region. In North America, good sales circulation, along with an increase in exports, created a price rise at the wholesale level in Mexico. In the U.S., a price adjustment was registered.

Blueberry

In the United Kingdom and Europe, an increase in blueberry ocean shipments has been reported, in addition to slight price adjustments. In North America, prices rose in the U.S., while Southern Hemisphere supply has maintained stable volumes in Canada during the past few weeks.

Cherry

In North America, the U.S. market maintains moderate sales activity, which along with a higher supply, caused a price adjustment. In Canada, the fruit’s variable condition has generated various price segments.

In Europe and the United Kingdom, high volumes of Chilean cherries push prices down. In Latin America, there are price adjustments in Brazil and Colombia.

In Asia, there is a wide price fluctuation. This is caused by the variable condition in Chilean cherry supply in the region's main markets. Prices show a downward trend in Hong Kong/China and Taiwan, in order to clear inventories.

Peach/Nectarine

In North America, the first ocean shipment with higher nectarine volumes is expected to arrive both in Mexico and the U.S. within next week. On the other hand, the peach supply remains limited in both countries, primarily in the U.S. West Coast. In Europe and the United Kingdom, the South African stone fruit supply dominates and sales show low activity. Chilean volumes are still low in the Continent.

Plum

In North America, the Chilean season in the U.S. is expected to start next week with the arrival of the first shipments, while in Mexico it is scheduled to begin late December.

Table grapes

In North America, the Chilean season begins in the U.S., with the arrival of the first ship to the East Coast during week 50. In Mexico, there was a decrease in California imported fruit, especially Red Globe.

In Europe and the United Kingdom, the market has low sales activity, while in Russia, Red Globe sales are more active. In Asia, the first shipment of table grapes from the Southern Hemisphere have already arrived. California supply is low and the Red Globe variety shows condition problems.

Source: iQonsulting/www.freshfruitportal.com