Walnuts: California has a successful start to the export season
October 24, 2024 at 12:45 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
US exports up by 40%
Activity was still subdued in the first month of the new US walnut season. A total of 13,636 mt of shelled and unshelled walnuts were shipped domestically and overseas in September 2024, a decrease of 22% compared to the same month last year. While deliveries to the domestic market fell by a whopping 40% to 7,595 mt, the export volume increased by 25% year-on-year to 6,041 mt. Despite declining import figures in some cases, Italy (+307% to 1,026 mt), Japan (+118% to 787 mt), the UK (-26% to 666 mt) and Germany (-24% to 599 mt) emerged as the most important sales markets in the first month of this season. One reason for this is likely to be the disappointing walnut crop in Chile, which is why some countries are compensating for the deficit with imports from the USA.
In its Objective Measurement Report of 4 September, the US Department of Agriculture reduced its forecast for the 2024 Californian walnut crop to 608,000 mt, compared to previous expectations of 635,000-671,000 mt. This would mean a year-on-year decline in walnut production of 18.6%, compared to a result of 747,000 mt in 2023. According to the latest report from the California Walnut Board, 72,025 mt of organic walnuts from the new crop were registered in September, plus 1,354 mt of organic walnuts. Growers were initially satisfied with the quality of the crop, but there are now increasingly frequent reports that there are considerable regional differences. In the growing regions of the California Central Valley, October heat is said to have had a particularly negative impact on walnut yields.
EU imports up by a third
Since the beginning of the year, 101,873 mt of shelled walnuts have been imported into the EU, an increase of almost 33% compared to the same period last year. The four most important third country origins all recorded significant growth. Shipments from the USA increased by 34.2% and totalled 63,871 mt, while the EU also increased imports from countries such as Chile (+0.6% to 14,155 mt), Ukraine (+78.2% to 13,554 mt) and China (+87.1% to 6,297 mt). However, shipments from Moldova declined, falling 5.3% year-on-year to 2,443 mt. The top importer in the EU in this period was Germany with 33,580 mt (+6.7%), followed by Spain (+35% to 16,920 mt) and the Netherlands (+80.2% to 16,920 mt).
|
EU walnut imports, in mt |
|||
|
Supplier |
2023 |
2024 |
Diff. |
|
USA |
47,586 |
63,871 |
34.2% |
|
Chile |
14,070 |
14,155 |
0.6% |
|
Ukraine |
7,606 |
13,554 |
78.2% |
|
China |
3,365 |
6,297 |
87.1% |
|
Moldova |
2,579 |
2,443 |
-5.3% |
|
Others |
1,582 |
1,553 |
-1.8% |
|
Total |
76,788 |
101,873 |
32.7% |
|
DG AGRI TAXUD Customs Surveillance System, 01/01-20/10 08023200 Fresh or dried walnuts, shelled |
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Good quality in Greece
The walnut harvest is now also in full swing in Greece. According to Yannis Karkanis, Chairman of the Gaia Domokou Agricultural Walnut Co-operative, yields are down on last year. However, this was to be expected due to the extreme heat and lack of rainfall in the summer months. However, the quality of the crop is said to be impressive, with a pleasing proportion of large nuts. Around 80% of Gaia Domokou walnuts are said to fall into the 30-32 category, and around 10% are even larger than this. Commodity prices here are currently averaging EUR 3.00-3.50/kg, with top-quality walnuts even selling for up to EUR 4.00/kg.
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