Pistachios: Drastic production drop in 2017
June 28, 2017 at 12:05 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
About 236,750 mt of US pistachios should be produced this year, a reduction of 42% compared to last year. To compensate, market players expect the Iranian pistachio crop to be one to two thirds bigger at about 250,000 mt.
US pistachio production |
|
Season |
mt |
2017/18* |
236,750 |
2016/17 |
409,664 |
2015/16 |
124,645 |
2014/15 |
235,477 |
2013/14 |
215,708 |
Source: Pistachio Committee *estimate |
Appearances are deceiving
Because of the production slump of almost 50% to 125,000 mt in 2015, Germany considerably reduced its pistachio imports from the USA at the beginning of 2016. Thanks to the record crop of almost 410,000 mt in the same year, total imports did still reach the same level as last year with about 11,000 mt.
Pistachio imports to Germany in mt |
|||
Country |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Italy |
112 |
165 |
163 |
Turkey |
23 |
0 |
12 |
USA |
4,380 |
1,987 |
6,723 |
Iran |
4,424 |
3,545 |
3,598 |
Source: German Statistical Office Jan-Apr |
Expectations for 2017/18
In the first nine months of 2016/17, the USA was able to increase exports many times over compared to the same period last year. Deliveries on the domestic market also increased from 45,000 mt to 67,000 mt.
Together with the surpluses from last season, an estimated 456,191 mt were available for 2016/17. If exports maintain the current pace, a surplus of 140,000 mt should remain on the market at the end of the current season, after deducting non-marketable products. Therefore, despite the smaller crop, more than 375,000 mt should be available in 2017/18.
US pistachio exports in mt |
|||
Country |
2015/16 |
2016/17 |
Diff. |
Europe |
25,003 |
43,190 |
73% |
Asia/Oceania |
14,878 |
90,534 |
508% |
Africa/Middle East |
2,364 |
12,194 |
416% |
Central/South America |
344 |
628 |
83% |
North America |
4,198 |
6,956 |
66% |
Other |
199 |
1,838 |
823% |
Total |
46,986 |
155,339 |
231% |
Since the beginning of the season |