W20: Plum & Prune Update

In W20 in the plum and prune landscape, in the first four months of 2023, Chilean dried plum exports totaled 13.16K MT, valued at USD 52.8M, with shipments destined for more than 70 countries. Chilean dried plum shipments to China in the period reached 2,164MT, worth USD 6.8M, while exports to Germany totaled 1,983MT, valued at USD 9.1M. Other main destinations for Chilean dried plum exports were Poland, Mexico, Spain, and Russia. In Ukraine, there is an expectation of a shortage of cherry plum supplies in the summer of 2023 due to the effects of unfavorable weather. The growth process of fruit was delayed due to the windy, cold, and rainy weather at the beginning of May. Also, the Ukrainian summer plum harvest is uncertain as it depends on the weather in the second half of May. Furthermore, Ukraine imports cherry plums from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and sells them for up to USD 5.36/kg. Lastly, Vietnam is expected to export the first batch of ruby plums to Hong Kong in W20 at USD 17/kg, nearly double the domestic price. The Vietnamese ruby plum season runs from mid-May to the end of June. Ruby plums are harvested in the Na Ka Valley of the Moc Chau district in Son La province. Plums harvested in the orchards will be sorted, then packaged and sent to sellers within the day by air. Vietnam expects the plum harvest from Son La province in 2023 to amount to 89K MT, with the ruby variety accounting for about one-third.