W18: Watermelon Update
In W18 in the watermelon landscape, in Iran, the price of watermelons decreased from USD 0.47-0.59/kg (IRR 20,000-25,000/kg) to USD 0.14-0.19/kg (6,000-8,000/kg). In the Obour market of Egypt, the price of watermelons stood at USD 0.39-0.58/4-6kg (EGP 12-18/4-6kg). On the other hand, in the Italian market, the price of Sicilian baby watermelons stood at USD 1.76-2.20/kg (EUR 1.60-2/kg), and Moroccan watermelons were priced at USD 1.10/kg (EUR 1/kg).
The first Dumara watermelons arrived in the Netherlands from the Zagora region of Morocco. However, lower volumes are expected due to the strict acreage regulations set by the government of Morocco. The Spanish watermelon season was affected by climate change, and a decrease of 10-15% in areas allocated for watermelons is expected for the 2022/23 season. The supply of watermelons in Almeria, Spain, is steadily increasing, with over 2M kg of watermelons harvested. Despite allocating the same cultivation area as the previous year, the volume obtained in the early weeks of the campaign has doubled compared to 2022. Demand for small calibers abroad has stagnated due to low temperatures and rainfall in northern Europe, while the national market showed demand for larger calibers. The Turkish watermelon season had a slight delay due to weather conditions. However, the crop quality was not affected. Producers report high expectations for the total volume of watermelons for the 2022/23 season.
On May 5th, a high supply of watermelons from Goiás, Brazil, is forecasted to reach the domestic market. With a favorable climate, watermelon growers expect high productivity, which could reach up to 44.3 tons per hectare. The cost per hectare at the beginning of the harvest remained high, at around USD 0.15/kg (BRL 0.73/kg). Lastly, watermelon traders in Kedah, Malaysia, are facing losses and spoilage of their produce due to a surplus in supply and hot weather, with losses of up to 1 tonne of spoiled watermelons recorded by a farmer. Growers reported high temperatures hindered growth, resulting in misshapen fruits. In addition, other states that previously sourced watermelons from Kedah have started producing their own, further affecting the demand for watermelons from Kedah farmers.
