“There are few negative reports on new crops, and this is a good sign. Night frosts during the flowering of vineyards and fruit trees are dangerous, but not the only negative factor. Rains during harvesting and drying the harvest will cause considerable damage,” experts note.

Dried apricots

Apricot gardens in Malatya (Turkey), one of the key apricot exporters, are in full bloom, and the critical period of possible damage from frosts is coming to an end. Weather forecasters do not promise night frosts in the near future, but the danger will remain until the end of April. According to estimates, in the past year, ~ 100 thousand tons of dried apricots were harvested, and exports of fruits have reached 65 thousand tons by today. If it keeps the current dynamics, then with a good new crop, you can count on 10-20 thousand tons of carryover balances. Prices for dried apricots are weakening, and as soon as the danger of nocturnal frosts passes, they will go down. Given the good financial situation of farmers due to previous sales, they can limit the offer, in order to raise prices. In addition, a constitutional referendum could significantly affect the rate of the Turkish lira.

Dried apples

Chinese suppliers raised the prices of dried apples due to a reduction in inventories. This is the standard move for the Chinese: new orders are covered by raw materials from cold storage facilities, the cost of storage of which is higher.

Banana chips

The tension in the market for banana chips is falling. However, there are two related markets – spot and producer countries. On the spot market, the supply deficit, and sellers raise prices. In the market of the producer’s country, prices are lower, which provokes buyers to wait for further price cuts, and this does not help to replenish stocks in the spot market. Prices for banana chips on the spot market will remain high, at least in the next 2-3 months.

Dried currant

There is no fresh news from Greece about the existence of dried currant there. Prices are high (if there is a proposal), in the range of 1815-1920 US dollars per ton. Offers from South Africa at the same price level, but the berries are much smaller.

Candied fruits from pineapple and papaya

Activity in the market is zero. Offers from Thailand are limited. Prices are high, demand is low. In the spot market, stocks are small, so that in the near future price easing is not expected.

Prunes

Prices for prunes in Chile have grown compared to attractive prices at the opening of the season. The harvest is good, and exporters are determined to contract as soon as possible. California prunes are too expensive for Europe because of the import duty (for Chilean products the duty is zero). Only some buyers traditionally order prunes in California.

Raisins

The quality of the new raisin harvest in South Africa is quite good, but the yields in some positions are disappointing, especially for the Goldens variety. Thompsons has no problems.

From Chile, there are reports that the size of the new crop of raisins was less than expected. However, most buyers are skeptical about such news. For Chile, this is a traditional marketing strategy, which often ends with a sell-off at the end of the season, due to the fact that suppliers, creating an artificial deficit, have held stocks for too long.

In Turkey vineyards bloom. Their small part ~ 10-15% suffered from nocturnal frosts, but the weather forecast is favorable. Buyers are waiting, and farmers are getting rid of stocks on the eve of a good new crop. Prices for Turkish sultanas and other raisins are stable. Standard sultanas No. 9 special cleaning is offered at a level of 1200-1250 US dollars per ton on FOB Izmir.

Prices for Californian raisins do not change. Producers in the US get rid of Thompson raisin-seed stocks. Today, such raisins of good quality are offered at $1,270-1300 per ton with delivery until October and beyond.

Dried figs

Export of dried figs from Turkey at the end of March 2017 reached 37,646 tons, so there were not enough unsold stocks. Prices are high, for example - the price for dried figs of good quality Lerida No. 6 in the range of 4750-5000 US dollars per ton. With the approach of Ramadan, the prices and dates will remain high in the foreseeable future. It is likely that this year the Turkish dried figs will be sold before the figs of a new crop appear on the market at the end of September.