In W28 in the mandarin landscape, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that the forecast for the United States (US) tangerine and mandarin production to reach 903 thousand metric tons (mt), indicating a 5% increase compared to the previous forecast and a 23% increase from the utilization of the 2021/22 season. Furthermore, the forecast for California's tangerine and mandarin production stands at 22 million boxes (equivalent to 880 thousand mt), a 5% increase from the previous forecast and a 26% increase from the 2021/22 season. Meanwhile, the Peruvian mandarin season has been delayed due to warm weather, resulting in a delay of approximately four to five weeks in the fruit's coloration and harvest. This warm weather has also affected the early blueberries, causing a slight delay. Flowering in certain varieties, such as Ventura, has been delayed, potentially leading to a longer-than-expected season in Peru. However, further observations are required to confirm this.
Mandarin prices have plummeted in Europe after a successful overseas mandarin season. The significant drop in prices is due to the increased supply of imported mandarins in Europe, which has created considerable pressure on the prices of easy peeler fruits. As a result, the selling price of Clementines/Clemenules and other varieties' has almost halved in two weeks. The South African ports have experienced congestion due to adverse weather conditions, leading to disruptions in logistics. However, the supply of mandarins is expected to remain sufficient, with moderate sales anticipated in Jul-23. Demand for mandarins should increase during August and September. However, sales for mandarins are still anticipated to improve in Jul-23, despite it not being the most favorable month for sales. In addition, South African mandarins entered the Chinese market in early Jun-23, demonstrating increased production and higher import volumes compared to the 2021/22 season. The arrival of the main Mandarin variety in China, Nadorcott, is expected in mid-to-late Jul-23. Furthermore, mandarin prices in 2023 are anticipated to remain relatively stable without significant fluctuations.
