A fresh approach to dried fruit and natural dried foods

News

August 27th 2009        The new season Turkish fig crop is now estimated to be around 56,000 mt which is about 18% higher than the last crop, which was reported to be 50604 mt but actually was only 48200mt.  The goods news is that the 2009 quality is thought to be much better with the exception there may be a quantity of figs with cracked skin caused by an extreme difference in temperature between night and day.  All this is good news for the Turkish fig industry but a clod on the horizon ahs been the recent announcement from the EU with increased testing from ports of entry for aflatoxin.  This decision comes about following an increase in the number of rejections this season and perhaps reflects a need to better understand the accuracy of the various testing results prior to there being change in the permitted aflatoxin levels for figs in the EU. The decision seems wrong in that if this year the crop is larger and of better quality there should also be naturally a reduction in levels of Aflatoxin .  in part because the quality of the fruit is better but also because there is a greater quantity available for packers.  A meeting of the exporters union has set the first fig shipment date as 28.9.09.  Although it is a little early for new season prices these are expected to ease back from previous high levels, but due to the pressure for early shipments any reduction is likely to be gradual. The 2009 Turkish sultanas’ crop is estimated to be around 2750,000 mt with a carry in of about 10,000 mt.  Exports f Turkish sultanas and raisin this year have reached over 270,000 mt, so although there seems to be sufficient fruit to meet likely requirements, a pessimist view might be that the situation could be rather tight.  In reality Iran is also predicted a much larger sultans and raisin crop and with the current strength of sterling against dollar this should provide a welcome alternative and so reduce the pressure on overall availability.  Early prices for 2009 crop sultans are around US 1600 pmt FOB for specially cleaned number 9 sultanas and use 1675 mt fob for specially cleaned standard number 10.  Sultanas. In the short terms due the the Ramadan religious holiday and the consequence lack of shipments prices may well increase due to a shortage on the European spot markets.  In the longer terms, however traders predict that prices will settle and perhaps and reduce by as much as USD 100 from the above figures.  Late news. It has been reported that there was a serious fire at one of the major South African dried fruit producers which has destroyed more than 25% of the Uppington packing plant.  Although it is too early to asses the damage reports are that a quantity of Thompson have been lost, which may cause some problems for forward orders.  In reality however reports are that the factory will be up and running again within weeks but further news is awaited.

George Harker & Co Ltd Park Drive Industrial Estate Braintree Essex CM7 1AW Tel 01376 321 272 Fax 01376 552 160

               

Demos Ciclitira Head Office - London Capitol House, 60 - 62 Leman Street London E1 8EU TEL 020 7626 FAX 020 7702 0560