This season, the behaviour of the average price of stonefruits is very similar to the 2013 and 2014 campaigns, when prices were high because of the low supply available.
The early peach and nectarine season for the Chinese market and in Hong Kong came to an end in early April and, although the volume was higher than in the previous year (4,444 tons vs. 2,272 tons), it didn't approach the 7,000 tons obtained in the best seasons, 2011/12 and 2012/13.
The last volumes of plums, programmed to arrive in mid-May, were going to be shipped in the last two weeks. However, the volumes shipped were very limited so the market could drastically reduce its activity at the beginning of that May.
The volume of Chilean plums shipped to China/Hong Kong was also higher than in the 2013/14 season (+160%), and it seems that they will amount to nearly 4,000 tons, a similar number than in the 2012/13 record season. The plum's average prices are back to normal, i.e. prices are very similar than in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons.
The high prices experienced during the 2013/14 season are basically due to the lower supply available in the market due to the lower production registered in Chile during 2013 as a result of the frost. This season in particular, the average price fell after the Chinese New Year, and remained at $2.5/kg until last week, when prices increased.
Source: IQonsulting