W44: Melon and Watermelon Update

In W44 in the melon and watermelon landscape, Peruvian melon exports in the first nine months of 2023 amounted to 117.8 tons, a 177.4% year-over-year (YoY) increase. Fresh melon accounted for 69.5% of total shipments in 2023, with melon seeds at 23.9% and frozen melon at 6.7%. Chile is the primary importer of Peruvian melons, representing 51.8% of the market, while other countries collectively make up the remaining 48.2%.

On the other hand, Peruvian watermelon exports between Jan-23 and Sep-23 reached 5.3 thousand tons, a 37.2% YoY decrease. These exports were valued at USD 648 thousand, indicating a substantial 63.6% YoY decrease in value. The decline in watermelon exports is due to political and logistical issues faced in Peru in late 2022 and early 2023, including road blockades and strikes. Chile imported 4.5 thousand tons of Peruvian watermelons, an 82% YoY increase. The total value of these imports amounted to USD 462 thousand, a 56% YoY increase in value. In contrast, Ecuador imported 743 tons of watermelons, worth USD 186 thousand, during this period, showing a significant 88% YoY decrease in both volume and value.

Egypt significantly increased melon exports to Saudi Arabia in the first eight months of 2023, doubling the 2022 volume. Egypt exported 16.5 thousand tons of melons during this period, marking a 2.5-fold increase from the last five-year average. Watermelon supplies surged by 80% YoY, and melon exports grew 2.4 times. The trend is expected to continue, with September to December traditionally contributing substantially to yearly shipments to Saudi Arabia.

In Oct-23, Uzbekistan's melon exports declined by 1.8 times YoY due to a sharp price increase of melons in the local market. Uzbekistan exported 2 thousand tons of fresh melons, a decrease from 3.7 thousand tons in the previous year. In the first two weeks of Oct-23, average wholesale prices surged from USD 0.19 to 0.29 per kilogram (UZS 2,300 to 3,500/kg), a 1.5 times increase. Due to different price trends in the first half of Oct-23 compared to the previous year, there's a significant increase in the price gap. As of October 13, 2023, the average wholesale melon price in Uzbekistan is 2.7 times higher YoY. Meanwhile, in the second half of Oct-23, the average wholesale price of these products remained stable at USD 0.29.kg (UZS 3,500/kg), 2.5 times higher than last year.