In W39 in the plum and prune landscape, plum availability in Germany decreased, with German Presenta and several key varieties registering a notable decline in volume. The consistent plum quality could no longer be assured. Overall, plum interest also dwindled among consumers, reflecting market saturation, especially considering the advanced stage of the 2023 season.
Driven by excellent quality and supply limitations, plum prices increased in Italy in W39. Various plum varieties were in circulation, such as Sicilian, Emilian, and the recent entrant in the Italian market, Angeleno. Plum demand remained within the expected range for the period.
The Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) expects a weaker-than-average plum harvest in 2023 due to the adverse drought conditions in 2022. KSH anticipates plum production in 2023 to be lower than the 34.9 thousand metric tons (mt) in 2022. Hungarian fresh plum exports ranged from 1.4 thousand mt to 3.5 thousand mt over the past three years, primarily destined for Romania. Fresh plum imports to Hungary remained between 1.2 thousand mt and 1.5 thousand mt during the period. Notably, Hungary registered a positive foreign trade balance in fresh plums in 2022, with exports (3.59 thousand mt) exceeding imports (1.48 thousand mt).
Hungary’s fresh plum imports reached 268.6 thousand mt in the first six months of 2023, notably 32% less than in the same period in 2022. Domestic plums entered the Budapest wholesale market at an average producer price of USD 1.09 per kilogram (kg) in W29, with a 5% increase to USD 1.15/kg from W29 to W38.
Silvestres is anticipating positive shifts in the Chilean dried plum industry in the coming years. This optimism is attributed to the El Niño phenomenon that has brought substantial rainfall during Chile's ending winter, alleviating the drought concerns of the past decade. This respite should continue until 2024, primarily benefiting the Chilean dried plum industry concentrated in Region VI. However, it's crucial for these rains to continue until Sep-24, as springtime precipitation isn't as beneficial, and summertime rain could damage the fruit quality.
Despite the expected low production in 2023 due to insufficient cold hours, the Chilean dried plum industry has been thriving, benefitting from historic-high prices in 2021 and 2022. Nevertheless, experts anticipate a return to more normal prices due to a slowing demand in China, partially attributed to a devalued Chinese yuan and intense competition. Nonetheless, the industry views India as a promising market, with the recent approval to export tenderized dried plums holding a great potential in a country with a growing population (1.4 billion) and an increasing emphasis on healthy food. Market analysts anticipate that India will become one of Chile's top export destinations for dried plums in the coming years, particularly for tenderized plums with and without pits.