Pistachios: Drastic production drop in 2017

June 28, 2017 at 12:05 PM , Der AUDITOR
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SACRAMENTO/TEHRAN. After the record US pistachio production of 2016, the outlook for the 2017 crop is not quite as rosy.

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

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