Mundus Agri News

TEHRAN. The South Khorasan Razavi Province accounts for as much as 95% of Iran’s barberry production. Annual dried barberry production usually ranges at 10,000 mt here. Suppliers are, however, confronted with many challenges this season. Not only did hailstorms and a hurricane cause extensive damage to the 2020 crop but the pandemic has also made it more difficult to sell and export barberries.

TEHRAN. A rather surprising twist has taken place in the date market over the last few weeks. While some market players were still highly concerned over high cold-storage inventories in April, these supplies have now evaporated. Dates from last year’s crop should in fact be sold out soon. Traders attribute this sharp cut in supplies to Ramadan and exchange rate fluctuations.

ATLANTA/BUENOS AIRES. Many buyers, especially in the EU, are currently holding back on new purchases. This is due to high stocks and market players waiting for the crops from Argentina and Brazil.

TEHRAN. The prices for saffron have been slashed by more than 50% in recent years. Although producers in Iran are struggling with this development, the upside is that international demand has been boosted. Exports have, nevertheless, declined sharply in March/April.

ATLANTA. After China had largely withdrawn from the US pecan market during the trade dispute, there is now a clear upward trend again. Nevertheless, farmgate prices remain at a ten-year low.

AYDIN. Traders in Turkey are increasingly holding back their goods, speculating that the new crop could be smaller due to drought damage, which would drive up prices. Exports, meanwhile, continue to catch up.

MALATYA. After government experts have assessed the growing regions, market players are now waiting for the official estimates for the new crop. These should be released within the next two weeks.

MANISA. The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) anticipates a 3.4% rise in global raisin production in 2021/2022. The production estimates for Turkey have, however, stirred some controversy. Traders have reacted swiftly.

HANOI/ALGIERS. At the 7th African Trade and Investment Forum in Algiers, intensive discussions took place, also between the Vietnamese ambassador and African delegates from various trade sectors. Cashew nut cultivation also played an important role.

BEIJING. Freight costs for container shipments from China to Europe remain at the high level of last week. At the same time, market players report price adjustments for Shine Skin kernels.

ORDU/REUS. Last week, the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) hosted its online congress where the production data of the current season and the forecasts for the coming season were discussed.

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NEW DELHI. South Korea has taken the market by surprise in issuing a new tender on Thursday. Market players had initially expected the tender next week at the earliest. Prices in India are rather surprising.

TEHRAN. Fig tree pollination has started in Estahaban and in Neyriz in Iran. Gardeners here use caprifigs for pollination. This has the advantage that the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are reduced and that the taste and quality of the figs is improved. Problem, however, is that there are not enough caprifig trees in Iran.

MASHAD. Although the Khorasan Razavi Province accounts for as much as 21% of Iran’s pistachio production, only few will have heard of Khorasan pistachios in the international market. And yet, if traceable supply chains are to be created effective marketing has to be introduced in the province. Large volumes are shipped to destinations in Europe and Asia every year.

TEHRAN. While the demand situation was an absolute disaster in Iran’s raisin market in April, tables have turned now. Neighbouring countries have bought up large volumes and exports show a clear trend. Much also depends on the political situation as reports state that US sanctions and the problems encountered in financial transactions have prompted some traders in Europe to sidestep suppliers in Iran.

CHRUDIM/ANKARA. Poppy seed farmers in the Czech Republic are highly satisfied with teh current weather conditions for the development of the new crop. Cold temperatures may, however, cause delays in harvesting.

SOFIA. Some traders are sounding the alarm bells at present. Prices are the issue. Attractive prices for inshell sunflower seeds have resulted in the bizarre situation that some processing companies have been prompted to sell their inshell supplies. Risk is that if production falls short of expectations this will contribute to another season of record high prices. Other traders, however, reckon that it is too early to hit the panic button.

NUR-SULTAN/OTTAWA. Temperatures are on the rise in Kazakhstan and are expected to exceed 30C in the next few days. The flaxseed crop may certainly suffer from this heatwave. Rain has, by contrast, prompted relief in Canada.

BEIJING. Freight charges have hit such high levels that pumpkin seed traders in China are now exclusively issuing FOB prices for shipments to Europe. It is simply too much of a risk to provide CFR prices. There is no sign that the situation may improve in the next few months.

HANOI. While production is set to decline in Vietnam, prospects are much more encouraging in Western Africa. Shipping cashew nuts overseas is, however, a challenge. As India is struggling with the pandemic, there is little hope that exports will revive this year.

SANTIAGO/MADRID. The season is set to be tough in the prune market. Sharp production declines are expected in all countries and it is next to impossible to obtain any offers. To make matters worse, the lack of containers is rendering transport more expensive.

MANISA. Manisa is confronted with an extreme heatwave at present. The vines may very well be damaged. Rumours concerning this year's sultana production are circulating in the market. Good news, however, is that exports are catching up. The lack of suitable containers, however, continues to pose a challenge.

MADRID/SACRAMENTO. Subjective almond production estimates have recently been issued in Spain. Although only 15% of the planted area is irrigated, plantations with irrigation account for as much as 50% of production in Spain. Thereby showing how crucial sufficient water supplies are. Although production is expected to hit another record in California, the state is preparing for severe drought with dire consequences for growers.

AYDIN. Growers in Aydin are still confronted with drought-like conditions. Farmers are concerned that the current weather situation will prompt a sharp decline in production. Dried fig exporters are also confronted with problems.

ORDU. The spotlight is on the current hazelnut crop again after prices took a rather surprising turn in Turkey last week. Issue is a rather curious statement made by President Erdogan himself concerning the purchase price for tea produced in the Rize Province. Although this has a massive impact on the hazelnut market, traders reckon that the current price trend is anything but sustainable.

MALATYA. Attention has shifted towards the new apricot crop in Turkey. Speculations on dried apricot prices are also rife. While the trees are currently being assessed rumour has it that production will be good. In how far these considerations will prove true will show as soon as the first official crop estimates have been issued.

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GUJARAT. Weekly monitoring with the latest market information from India on cumin, coriander and turmeric, chilli, black pepper and cardamom as well as a price list for more than 70 products.

NEW DELHI. Cyclone "Tauktae" caused violent winds and above-average rainfall this week, especially in the Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Farmers now fear for their summer crops.

TEHRAN. Although Iran’s saffron production has risen continuously in recent years and international demand is booming, the market should witness a turn this year. Problem is a mismatch in pricing. While prices have declined in the international market over the last two years, prices in the domestic market have remained firm and production costs have risen drastically. This results in the bizarre situation that while saffron is an absolute trend product in the international market, the farmers are lacking incentive to cultivate the spice.

TEHRAN. Competitive prices have prompted a sharp rise in green cumin exports in Iran. As average export prices are 30% down suppliers can easily compete with their colleagues in India. Much will, however, depend on political developments in the next few months as the lifting of US sanctions and the return of the US to the nuclear deal are crucial to exports.

TEHRAN. Although high date inventories have been repeatedly reported in recent weeks, the market has taken a surprising turn. Question is in how far the current prices are sustainable. With annual production ranging at 1.25 million mt dates are the fifth most important product in Iran’s horticultural sector.

SACRAMENTO/SANTIAGO. Container shortages and other logistical hurdles due to the global pandemic situation are nothing new for US exporters. In April, however, traders managed to...

SOFIA/BRUSSELS. This week, the experts at Coceral published their updated forecast for the EU sunflower seed production.

CHRUDIM. Favourable weather conditions increase the hope for a good poppy seed crop in 2021 and the fields are in good condition. The focus of market players is therefore increasingly shifting to the new season.

CHICAGO/PARIS. Market and price trends with first trade assessments. China surprises with further import demand. COCERAL updates its EU production forecast. Algeria announces a new wheat tender.

NUR-SULTAN/OTTAWA. The Kazakh Grain Union (KGU) expects a rise in cultivation this year. At the same time, Kazakhstan's flaxseed exports during the first seven months of this season have so far failed to match last year's result.

MANISA/TEHRAN. The new week after the end of Ramadan celebrations started in Turkey with relaxed curfews and…

CHICAGO/HAMBURG. Market and price trends with trade assessments. China's meat supply is rising, but prices are declining. For rapeseed and canola, the market is doing a balancing act between the old and the new crop.

AYDIN/TEHRAN. In both Turkey and Iran, low rainfall rates pose a risk to the coming fig crop. Exporters also complain about the difficulties caused by the ongoing container shortage.

MALATYA. Farmers and producers in Turkey are still very divided about the crop volume for the new season. Storm and frost damage will ultimately prove to be decisive.

ORDU. During the counting for the new crop, some anomalies were found in the Ordu region. In addition, a purchase bid by the TMO could be announced soon.

HANOI. Vietnamese producers can be pleased about high demand and very good exports. However, there are considerable differences in prices.

BEIJING. Little by little, prices for Shine Skins are increasing on the Chinese market, with quotations for...

ATLANTA. Both domestic and export demand in the US have increased significantly compared to the previous season. For most a reason to rejoice - only the farmers are not that happy yet.

MADRID/SACRAMENTO. Last week's subjective estimate issued by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) came with a bang. Although market experts reckon that another production record is out of the question in California this year as the almond trees need time to recover from last year's record of 3.12 billion pounds, the initial subjective forecast rather predicts another bumper crop of 3.20 billion pounds. This would be the third year in a row that production hits a record in California and begs the question how realistic such expectations are. Traders in Europe have, meanwhile, been deliberating over the impact of the pandemic over the last few months. Now the import data recently updated by the European Commission shows a clear trend in terms of demand.

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