W35: Peach & Nectarine Update

In W35 in the peach and nectarine landscape, in Moldova some late-ripening peach orchards remained unharvested as the 2023 peach season draws to a close. Also, a few agricultural enterprises had small reserves of high-quality peaches that could be stored for up to two more weeks and sold mainly to domestic supermarkets. The declining supply of high-quality peaches led to a rise in wholesale prices, reaching USD 1.01 per kilogram (kg) on the wholesale markets and USD 1.12/kg through direct supply contracts with supermarkets.

The average peach price remained at around USD 0.84/kg for most of the 2023 summer season in Moldova, a 1.5 to 2-fold increase compared to 2022. This price surge can be attributed to a decreased harvest volume due to poor pollination, insufficient sanitary treatments, and prolonged drought, which reduced production by approximately 30% to 40% in 2023 compared to 2022. Consequently, Moldova exported less than 1 thousand metric tons (mt) of peaches in 2023, with some supermarket chains resuming Greek peach imports at the end of Aug-23.

The Georgian Ministry of Agriculture reports that Georgia exported approximately 20.3 thousand mt of peaches and nectarines, valued at USD 22.4 million, from May 1 to August 22. The average peach and nectarine price stood at around USD 1.1/kg in the period. Notably, August contributes around 30% of the annual peach and nectarine exports.

Hungarian peach growers are bracing for a disappointing harvest in 2023 due to severe frost damage. Widespread spring frosts hit peach plantations across Hungary, with some regions experiencing up to 100% damage for delicate varieties. Even more resilient varieties suffered between 60% to 80% damage. Estimates suggest only a modest yield, even for frost-tolerant varieties, from the approximately 2.47 thousand hectares (ha) of peach plantations in Hungary. The largest growing area is in Csongrád-Csanád county, covering over 1.07 thousand ha. Peach cultivation in Hungary significantly declined in recent decades, from 13 thousand ha in the 1970s to just a few thousands in 2023. Typically, 60% of the Hungarian peach harvest is sold fresh, while 40% is destined for processing.

Lastly, EastFruit reports that Uzbekistan’s average peach and nectarine prices surged from USD 0.99/kg on August 25 to USD 1.32/kg on September 1. This price increase represents a significant 33% week-on-week (WoW) increase, a 2-fold month-on-month (MoM) rise, and a 2.7-fold year-on-year (YoY) growth. Despite these price dynamics, Uzbekistan experienced a record 2023 peach and nectarine export season. Uzbekistan’s peach and nectarine shipments reached 80.1 thousand mt, valued at USD 61.1 million from May 21 to August 20, a 15% YoY increase in volume.