W20: Melon Update

In W20 in the melon landscape, it was reported that the price of Sicily melons in the Italian market stood at USD 1.62-1.94/kg (EUR 1.50-1.80/kg). In addition, in Licata, Italy, the price of melon barely reaches USD 0.32-0.43/kg (EUR 0.30-0.40/kg), while production costs stand around USD 1.08-1.29/kg (EUR 1-1.20/kg), causing significant hardships for melon growers. While producers suffer low prices, large-scale distributors maintain higher prices of around USD 3.77/kg (EUR 3.50/kg). On the other hand, Spanish melon producers have estimated a decrease in production of more than 20% due to drought, high production costs, and a delay in the end of winter campaigns. The Agricultural Organization COAG forecasted high prices similar to the previous 2022/23 seasons, where melons were priced as high as USD 12.92/kg (EUR 12/kg). The cultivated area of melons has decreased in recent years, with melon cultivation dropping from 19K hectares in 2021 to 17.91K hectares in 2022.

Lastly, after a four-year hiatus, Naju City in Jeollanam-do, South Korea, has resumed the export of Seji melons. The melons recently underwent a loading ceremony for shipment to Japan, with a total export volume of 500kg divided into 100 boxes, each weighing 5kg, being the first export since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.