W23: Melon Update

In W23 in the melon landscape, in the first quarter of this year, Spain imported 35.16 million kg of melons. Brazil was the largest supplier, followed by Senegal and Portugal. Spain paid a total of USD 34.61 million (EUR 31.96 million) for these imports, with an average price of USD 0.99/kg (EUR 0.91/kg). Also, Italian melons are experiencing a surge in quality and global demand, leading to higher prices. The melons from Sicily are particularly noteworthy. In addition, Italian melon and watermelon production faces weather challenges, but the market is favorable with increasing consumption and high prices. The Bristol organization manages diseases like mildew in five regions of Italy. Sales match production, with smooth melons priced at over USD 2.71/kg (EUR 2.50/kg). Farmers in Kazakhstan's Turkestan region are shifting from cotton to growing watermelons and melons due to higher demand and profits. The early varieties of these fruits are exported to countries like Russia, and the region has already started harvesting around 7K tons. The local government has allocated significant areas for melon cultivation, with the largest area of 20K hectares in the Zhetysay district. In total, melons and gourds are grown on nearly 70K hectares in the region.