Olive Oil Times’ Post

The Murcia stone fruit season is already underway The extra-early stone fruit season has already begun in the Murcia Region, where growers have started harvesting the first varieties of peaches, nectarines and apricots. A production of approximately 300,000 tons is expected, with optimal quality forecasted due to the absence of significant temperature fluctuations. The first fruits of the season are being well received in the market, and it is estimated that between 60,000 and 75,000 tons of extra-early fruit will be placed on the market, which will be harvested until next May 20, when the mid-season campaign of peach, flat peach, nectarine and apricot will begin. The mid-season campaign runs until the end of July, followed by the late production in August. In terms of exports, the Region of Murcia is a key player, with 132,000 tons of stone fruit exported in 2023. This figure reflects the importance of the region in the European market, positioning it as one of the main peach and nectarine exporting provinces, as well as the leading apricot exporting region in Spain.

The surge in fresh grape exports from Peru and Egypt in 2023 signals a significant opportunity for the African agriculture sector. Peru's remarkable 16% year-on-year increase in volume and 28% increase in value highlight the growing global demand for fresh produce. With exports expanding to over 55 countries and notable gains in Asian markets like Taiwan and Japan, there's a clear indication of the potential for African grape growers to explore new markets and boost their revenues. Similarly, Egypt's record-high table grape exports to Saudi Arabia underscore the country's growing dominance in this market. With a 16% year-on-year increase in exports and a substantial rise in market share to 45%, Egypt's success story demonstrates the potential for African exporters to capture a larger share of the international grape market. As African grape growers and exporters, there's an opportunity to learn from Peru and Egypt's success and capitalize on similar trends. By focusing on quality, market access, and strategic partnerships, African countries can enhance their competitiveness in the global grape trade. Leveraging technological advancements, sustainable farming practices, and effective marketing strategies can further strengthen Africa's position as a key player in the global grape market. Collaboration among African grape growers, industry associations, and government agencies can facilitate knowledge sharing, market access, and investment opportunities. By working together, we can unlock the full potential of Africa's grape industry and contribute to the continent's economic growth and development. Let's seize this opportunity to showcase Africa's rich agricultural heritage and make a lasting impact on the global stage. https://lnkd.in/dwsKY32J

Insightful & Interesting read on the Geopolitical Challenges impacting the Citrus Market. #Citrus #Orange #Beverage #Juice #Fruit

The always insightful Pia Piggott from Rabobank notes that: Avocado growers are unlikely to see any improvement in prices over the next five years, as more than 4,000 hectares of plantings come online. National production is forecast to be up 20% this year, to a record high of 139,000 tonnes. The majority has been in Queensland and Western Australia over the long term. Queensland was the major producer of avocado. To be precise, QLD growers produce 65% of Australia's avocado crop, but do not have access to the lucrative Japanese market. What am I missing here? Why can there be a whole of government approach to market access for wine, meat, grain and lobster, but not avocados, or any other fresh produce item for that matter? To be fair to governments of all persuasions, the fresh produce industry has never really done itself any favours in the trade space, the approach has been parochial and fragmented, almost timid in not wanting to somehow get government offside. Unfortunately that creates the door mat effect, where they literally get walked over and ignored.

(NEW ZEALAND 19.09.24) #globaltrade #citrus New Zealand says yes to Peruvian citrus [AG: New Zealand Opens Market to Peruvian Citrus - Will Australia Be Next?] New Zealand has opened its market to Peruvian citrus exports. A new agreement between Peru’s agriculture ministry and New Zealand's authorities allows citrus producers from several regions in Peru to export mandarins, oranges, tangelos and limes to New Zealand. Peru exported 143,410 tonnes of mandarins, worth US$185m, in the first seven months of 2024, marking significant growth in both volume (22%) and value (44%). Peru capitalized on reduced US citrus supply and an early end to California's season, boosting exports to the US and Europe, particularly with varieties like Murcott, Nadorcott and Orri. ----- [AG: The recent opening of New Zealand’s market to Peruvian citrus exports could have significant consequences for Australia’s citrus industry. With Peru now exporting mandarins, oranges, tangelos and limes to New Zealand, Australian citrus growers may face increased competition, particularly if Peruvian citrus is priced more competitively or arrives during Australia's season. This could result in reduced market share and price pressure in New Zealand, potentially impacting the prices Australian exporters can command. Peru's expanding global citrus exports, including to New Zealand, may also affect Australia’s position as a key supplier to other regions, such as the US or Europe, leading to shifts in trade flows and supply chain dynamics. To stay competitive, Australia may need to diversify its export markets, focus on premium or niche citrus varieties or offer value-added products. If Peruvian citrus arrives during Australia's off-season, the impact may be less severe, but if seasons overlap, competition could intensify. Additionally, as New Zealand has now embraced Peruvian citrus, it raises the possibility that Australia could soon follow suit. This could be seen as good news for major Australian retailers, who might welcome the opportunity to source Peruvian citrus at lower prices than domestic production. Many Australian supermarkets already import cheaper produce from Peru, and Peruvian citrus could further enhance their profit margins. However, for Australian citrus growers, the potential import of Peruvian citrus poses a significant threat. Farm-gate prices could be squeezed further as retailers opt for cheaper imports, jeopardizing the viability of our local citrus production. The critical question is whether Australia will be next to open its market to Peruvian citrus and, if so, what this will mean for the future of the country’s citrus industry.] -----

(USA/PERU 22.04.24) #grapes The U.S. receives nearly half of Peruvian table grape exports in 2023-2024 campaign. Between week 35 of 2023 and week 09 of 2024, Peruvian exports of fresh grapes totaled 562 tons, valued at $1.484 billion. While there was an 11 percent decrease in volume compared to the previous campaign, the value increased by 2 percent. The U.S. received 48 percent of these exports, maintaining stable demand despite a 12 percent drop in volume. In the Dutch market, there was a decrease in both value and volume, emphasizing the need for attention to maintain Peru's market presence. Conversely, the Mexican market saw a significant increase in both value and volume, indicating growth opportunities. Leading export companies during this period included Sociedad Agrícola Rapel S.A.C., Ecosac, and El Pedregal S.A. ----- [AG: Agronometrics Australia? Why doesn't Australia have its own version of "Agronometrics" offering freely, timely and pertinent information on our fresh produce industry? Despite Australia's reputation for technological adoption and the presence of numerous taxpayer-funded industry representatives, our industry lacks collaborative national communication and transparent, up-to-date information. This gap leaves farmers, growers and consumers vulnerable, relying on non-existent, outdated or incorrect data, hindering progress. Daily sales data collected verbally from wholesale market traders are scarce, unreliable, or inaccessible, often requiring paid subscriptions for data lacking detail or accuracy. Technology enabling real-time recording and reporting of sales data is deliberately withheld by post-farm gate operators, who aim to control market decisions. Unlike some other countries, Australia lacks a cohesive national initiative aimed at offering freely accessible and up-to-date fresh produce production data, market trends and market analysis to our farmers and growers. This deficiency in timely market analysis across all sectors of our supply chain is a significant concern for our fresh produce industry. Furthermore, there is frustration with taxpayer-funded industry representatives who appear unable or unwilling to provide satisfactory solutions or effectively inform their stakeholders. There is an urgent need for a collaborative national platform to promote transparency and provide current production and market data, empowering farmers and growers with accurate domestic market information crucial for industry sustainability. This platform would equip them with the tools needed for long-term profitability and existence. The failure to champion such initiatives raises questions about advocacy for the empowerment of Australian farmers and growers.] ----- https://lnkd.in/gNrcy49g

🍤 Shrimp Companies Seek to Maintain Exports in H2 Amid Fierce Competition Despite facing numerous challenges and stiff competition from various countries, Vietnamese shrimp exporters are implementing proactive strategies to maintain exports by diversifying their market focus and reducing dependence on traditional import markets. 🔹 Industry Challenges and Competitive Landscape According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the shrimp industry is grappling with fierce competition from Ecuador and India. Additionally, disease affecting farmed shrimp is evolving in a complex manner, which could lead to a shortage of raw materials for processing in the second half of 2024. 🔹 Market Shifts and Strategic Focus VASEP forecasts that shrimp exporters from Ecuador, India, and Indonesia will target the Chinese market due to high tariffs imposed by the US. This will create price pressure on Vietnamese shrimp exports to China, particularly for black tiger and white-leg shrimp products. Although the US market has significant consumption capacity, Vietnamese shrimp exporters are at a disadvantage compared to cheaper shrimp from Ecuador and India. The recent increase in shipping costs has further exacerbated this challenge. To mitigate these challenges, many companies are reducing their exports to the US and shifting their focus to closer markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Australia, and China. Companies are also proactively managing their farming operations and implementing strategic harvesting to achieve better prices. 🔹 Deep-Processed Shrimp: A Competitive Advantage Ho Quoc Luc, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sao Ta Food Joint Stock Company, believes that targeting the deep-processed shrimp segment could be a competitive advantage for the Vietnamese shrimp industry. Many markets, including Japan, the RoK, Australia, the UK, the US, and the EU, favour deep-processed products. In this market segment, Vietnamese shrimp processing and export companies focus on attractive packaging and stable quality. While Ecuador and India target the European market, Vietnamese companies will promote exports to the Asian market, especially the RoK and Japan. 🔹 High-Value Processed Products Le Van Quang, Chairman of Minh Phu Seafood Corp, highlighted that many processed shrimp products from Vietnam have a higher value. Ecuador and India cannot process in this manner or can only process in limited quantities. Vietnam offers many outstanding value-added shrimp products, such as breaded shrimp, fried shrimp, spiced shrimp, butterfly-cut shrimp, skewered shrimp, tempura shrimp, nobashi shrimp, shrimp dumplings, and shrimp ginger dumplings. #VietnamShrimpExports #SeafoodIndustry #MarketDiversification #DeepProcessedShrimp #GlobalTrade #VASEP #VietnamEconomy #ExportStrategy #CompetitiveAdvantage #AsianMarkets #HighValueProducts #TradeInt #BKE #BrianKnowExim

Exporting fruits and vegetables from Egypt Egypt is one of the most important countries exporting fruits and vegetables in the world, as it has fertile and diverse agricultural lands that produce many high-quality crops. Total Egyptian fruit and vegetable exports in 2024 amounted to about 2.5 billion US dollars, directed to more than 100 countries around the world. Al Kamal Company owns large agricultural lands in various parts of Egypt, especially in the Western Desert. The following are some of the most important Egyptian agricultural exports of Al Kamal Export Company: • Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons and grapefruit) • Vegetables (artichokes, tomatoes, potatoes, onions and peppers) • Fruits (mangoes, bananas, grapes and pomegranates) Egyptian fruit and vegetable exports contribute to providing hard currency and supporting the national economy. They also contribute to opening new markets for Egyptian products and strengthening trade relations with other countries Italy is one of the most important target markets for Al Kamal Company for Egyptian vegetable exports, especially artichokes, as Italy has a high population density and a large consumer market. Egypt exports to Italy a variety of fruits, such as bananas, mangoes, watermelons, peaches and apricots, as well as vegetables such as artichokes, onions and peppers.

#Chilean #grape season to end almost a month early! 🍇 Explore the factors behind the early conclusion of the Chilean grape #season and the implications for growers, exporters, and consumers https://lnkd.in/g9zXMeg5 #ChileanGrapes #HarvestSeason #FruitIndustry

(USA/CHILE 31.07.24) #avocados #blueberries #cherries #fruits #plums #tablegrapes Chilean fruit exports grow 9% in the first half of 2024 [AG: The Call for comprehensive, up-to-date fresh produce production & market information - An Unmet Need] Chilean fruit exports grew by 9% in the first half of 2024, driven by increased demand in international markets and favorable weather conditions. Key exports included grapes, cherries, and blueberries, contributing to the country's strong agricultural performance. ----- [AG: Australian fresh produce growers and the fresh produce industry lack a national dedicated platform for freely available up-to-date production and market information, unlike international counterparts. Platforms like Agronometrics www.agronometrics.com, USDA https://lnkd.in/d7xDDiuX, ProduceIQ www.produceiq.com and Growing Produce www.growingproduce.com (just to name a few) provide comprehensive and freely available data on production, market trends, pricing and volumes, which are crucial for informed decision-making. These platforms are accessible and user-friendly, enabling stakeholders to stay informed anywhere. Australia's fresh produce industry is dynamic and deserves a similar national platform to support its growth. Such a platform would enhance transparency, encourage competition and strengthen the industry. We urge industry leaders and government bodies to recognize this need and collaborate to create a platform that empowers our growers and secures our agricultural future. ----- https://lnkd.in/g8MhWki9