Europe
EU Detects Numerous Alerts on Fruits and Vegetables From Turkey
The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) received a total of 658 notifications during the 2021/22 campaign because of the high pesticide presence in imported fruits and vegetables from European Union member countries. With a total of 356 alerts for excessive pesticides in fruits and vegetables imported to the EU, Turkey led all other countries in the number of alerts between September 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022. Peppers received the most notifications with 85, followed by mandarins with 56 notifications.
Spain
30% Of the Spanish Clemenules Was Discarded Due to Its Creased Appearance Caused by Heavy Rain
The intense rains experienced in the production areas of Spain around W45 have caused 30–40% of the clemenules to be discarded due to the appearance of creasing. Exporters notice that their shipments from the last two weeks are arriving at their destination with this problem. As it is an evolving issue that has not been detected at its origin, the selection process for the remaining product is becoming more exhaustive and strict, which is significantly increasing sales prices. Additionally, due to this issue, clemenules is now forecast to finish earlier than expected and may create a few weeks of shortages until the hybrid mandarin season starts in late December. In W47, the export price for clemenules range between USD 1.24-1.34/kg place-packed EXW Spain.
Georgia
2022’s Tangerine Season in Georgia Is Expected to Have a Lower Harvest Than 2021
Georgia's 2022 tangerine season is ongoing in W48, and due to unfavourable weather, farmers began harvesting relatively late. For 2022, a harvest of 40,000–45,000MT of tangerines is anticipated, which is lower than in 2021. Exporters also expect prices to rise due to the lower supply. Up until W48, about 30-40% of the Adjara region's tangerine harvest has been harvested so far, and the harvest will continue for the next 20 days. While the wholesale price of the Unshiu tangerine, which is currently being harvested, ranges between USD 0.26-0.37/kg, the price of an early tangerine harvested in the first half of November went up to USD 0.74/kg. In comparison to 2021, the farm price grew by USD 0.04/kg YoY. Farmers mainly blame unfavourable weather conditions for the low harvest in the spring and summer of 2022. According to farmers, the harvest was negatively affected by rainy weather in the spring and a long drought in the summer.
Poland
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Prices in the Polish Wholesale Market in W48
In W47 in Poland, bananas and citrus experienced an increase in sales volume, while sales of grapes of European origin dropped due to falling temperatures and quality issues towards the end of the growing season. Italian mandarins finally arrived in large quantities and are selling well, with an expected increase in price in W48 due to rain in production areas of Italy. As of November 27, prices in the Bronisze wholesale market are as follows:
- USD 11.53/10kg Mandarin 1/2/3, Italian origin
- USD 10.20/10kg Mandarin 4, Italian origin
- USD 9.31/10kg Mandarin 5, Italian origin
- USD 0.84/kg Mandarin, Spain origin
Italy
The 2022 Clementine and Mandarin Season Has Low Sales in Terms of Value and Volume
Given the low sales in terms of value and volume, the clementine and mandarin season in Italy has not gotten off to a good start in large-scale distribution. IRI data for super and hypermarkets show that 5.49M kg of the total product (packaged and bulk) were sold in October, compared to 8.57M kg in October 2021, representing a 36% YoY volume decrease. Furthermore, Sicily produces almost all of the mandarins, with area increasing slightly from 4,731 hectares in 2021 to 4,873 hectares in 2022, and production increasing from 65,933MT in 2021 season to 73,342MT in 2022 season.
South Korea
Emergency on Jeju’s Tangerine Export in 2022
Russia is the primary export market for South Korean tangerines, and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which started in February, has caused a decline in export volume as a result of ineffective logistics at local ports. Jeju Island had originally planned to export 6,000MT this year, but it now expects exports to Russia to be closer to 4,000–4,500MT. Officials in the province's citrus industry are thus concerned that the decline in exports may negatively impact the price on the domestic market. The average amount of tangerines exported in 2020 and 2021, according to the province, was 6,236MT, of which 4,796MT were exported to Russia, making up roughly 76.9% of the total, but this year's exports are expected to be half that amount.
The Production of Early-Ripening Tangerines in 2022 Decreased 2.1% YoY
The main production area for early-ripening tangerines, Seogwipo, Jeju, produced less in 2022 compared to 2021, yet the quality is considered satisfactory. Beginning at a relatively low level, citrus prices are expected to rise in December. In 2022, 457,000MT early-ripened tangerines were harvested, which is a 2.1% YoY decrease. The Haegeori phenomenon is responsible for the decline in productivity (a phenomenon in which the yield significantly decreases in the following year after a year in which the yield was high). The proportion of low-marketability fruit is anticipated to increase as fruit sizes increase this season, as fewer fruits mean greater nutrient absorption. Today, the majority of tangerines hitting the market are the larger 2L and L sizes. Due to the lack of rain in Seogwipo from September to October, the sugar content is high and the quality is better than usual.
Japan
Autumn Japanese Mandarin Will Continue to Be Available for a Few More Weeks
Japanese mandarin for autumn, called “Wase”, seems to last for another few weeks. Wase season typically lasts from the middle of October until the end of November. Wase for 2022, on the other hand, ripened slowly, and as a result, its supply to the Tokyo market in October was lowered by 53% YoY. Supply in November was stable, and the W47 Tokyo market had 11% more than in 2021. The main variety of Japanese mandarin switches to a "Futsu" from the center area of Japan and recently ripened Wase will continue to be available on the market for a few more weeks.
Tunisia
Citrus Fruit, a Clear Decline in Tunisia Harvest Expected
According to the National Agriculture Observatory (Onagri), Tunisia's citrus harvest is projected to reach 290,000MT in the 2022/23 growing season. This is a 16% YoY decrease in the figure compared to the stock of 345,300MT recorded during the 2021/22 campaign, which is caused by the dry climates that occurred during the periods of citrus fruit flowering and setting (the initial formation of the fruit), as well as the rise in temperatures observed in the months of May and June of 2022. It is anticipated that mandarin production will drop by 18%.
