OVERVIEW GLOBAL MELON MARKET

Spain is the largest melon exporter in the world and does not have much competition on the market. After Spain, Guatemala is the next largest exporter. However, this country is not Spain’s competitor, because they mainly export to the US. In 2015 Spain exported nearly 435 million kilograms of melons. More than half this volume comes from Murcia. The third largest melon exporter is Brazil, Spain’s main competitor. Honduras takes the fourth place for export.

The three main regions where Spanish melons are cultivated are Almería, Murcia and Castilla-La Mancha. In 2016 the melon area is about 1,500 hectares smaller than last year, and the watermelon area increased by 2,000 hectares. Almería experienced a decrease in price at the end of the season. The early end in Almería and the late start in Murcia once again led to an increase in price. Prices are currently around 45 to 50 cents per kilogram. The lull in production and the high prices caused some cultivators to harvest their melons too early. If the weather in Europe had been good, Spain would not have been able to meet demand. The melon harvest in Castilla-La Mancha will start in five days. A shortage is expected, because less early strains have been planted this year. Melons experienced a sharp increase in export. Much was sent to other European countries, especially Piel de Sapo melons. The number of shipments to the US, Canada and Asia also increased. Spain is the largest exporter of melons in the world. In 2015, the country exported nearly 435 million kilograms, amounting to 19.45 per cent of global melon sales.

It appears as though the market for melons and watermelons found its balance in week 27, both for demand and prices. Prices for top quality melons are between 1.80 and 2 euro per kilogram, and for average quality between 1.30 and 1.50 per kilogram. Good quality watermelons from Emilia-Romagna and Montavo are sold at about 70 to 80 cents per kilogram. Italy has a lot of domestic production. Watermelons and yellow melons from Sicily are much in demand in other European countries. Cultivation prices for watermelons from Sicily are at 30 cents per kilogram, while yellow melons are at 60 cents.

The watermelon market has changed in recent years, both in Italy and in other countries. Mini-watermelons are very popular, and mega-watermelons are hardly sold by retailers anymore. Families are, of course, becoming smaller, and furthermore, watermelons are difficult to store. Watermelons between 6 and 10 kilograms are popular, but a large part of consumers wants them even smaller, between 1.5 and 2.7 kilograms. Seed houses are doing a lot of research into the best melon. Focus is mostly on shelf life and firmness of flesh, at the expense of flavour. Current trend is that people want to return to the old, flavourful strains.

The Greek watermelon season was in full swing mid-June. Production was high and talk was of decreasing prices. Greece sees Italy as its largest competitor. 

The late summer caused a decrease in demand for melons in France. Production was also struck by the autumnal weather. Because both supply and demand were less, the ratio between the two was still fine, and the season was fine regarding prices. A decreasing demand is expected for the coming weeks, but that is usual for the holiday period.

The watermelon season is not going as expected, because of the less-than-ideal weather in Belgium. Demand is not very high, but Belgium is also not receiving large volumes from Spain. Despite the lower consumption, prices for watermelons are not low, due to less production in Spain, causing lower supply. Top quality watermelons are sold at 80 to 90 cents. If Spain had regular production, prices would be at 40 to 50 cents. The only advantage this season is the smaller volumes.

No product is as dependent on the weather as the melons, especially watermelons. Good weather is needed for quick sales. Because of the continuously bad weather, sales are disappointing. Luckily the market is not being flooded with melons, or the price situation would be even more dramatic. The largest supply of melons is from Murcia, Spain. Besides, the Netherlands also has supply from Italy and France, and Greece, Hungary and Italy are also entering the market with watermelons. Prices Murcia: Galia: 2-3.50 euro; Cantaloupe: 4-4.50 euro; Piel de Sapo: 9-10 euro; yellow melons: 7-7.50 euro; watermelons: 0.40 euro.

Melon production is good at the moment, but because of climate change, cultivators had many problems at first. The government is coming with more initiatives to allow for more export, but for now production is only meant for domestic consumption. The peak of production is during the European winter months, that would therefore be a good time for export. This is what Colombia is working towards as well.

This country is showing a decrease in the watermelon area. In recent years the market was disappointing, causing most farmers to choose the cultivation of different fruits with better prices. Melon cultivators had a lot of rain in recent months, causing the loss of much production.

Brazil still has to start its season. There is some trade on the local market, but export still has to start. Last season was quite difficult for some producers, mainly because of the dry weather. It is difficult to say how it will be from the end of August until the end of the year. Normally, export continues until about May. Last season exporters had to stop sooner because of the bad market.

Melons are an important product and have a positive influence on the economic situation of the country. The season has now ended. Last season the country started early. Prices were acceptable, but not great. The market was difficult for the first few months of the year, and this also had to do with competition from Panama and Honduras. Costa Rica did export more melons than in previous years, but was not the only country on the market.

Melons are a fairly small product in Israel, but growers make a decent profit with them. The largest part of production is cultivated in Arava and Negev, and locally marketed between June and August. Domestic melons are available in Israel nearly year-round. The total area is around 2,500 hectares, with an average production of 75,000 tonnes. About 50,000 tonnes of that is consumed domestically. Between September and October Israel has an export window, between the Spanish and Brazilian seasons. Success of the export season is different each year.

Melon production in the southwest of the US is decreasing. Harvest is at a peak moment in California, and plenty of volume will become available form Central Valley in the coming three months. The weather circumstances in the desert were very favourable for a good harvest this year. Prices of Cantaloupe melons from California and Arizona were between 6 and 8.95 dollar for 9 melons. Prices for yellow melons were between 6 and 8 dollar for 5 melons. This was the situation on 11 July. The development in the melon market is that consumers want more flavour and higher sugar levels in the US. One of the newest flavour strains is the Origami Cantaloupe from Legend. Sales increased sharply since its introduction.

Parts of Texas were hit by rainstorms this summer. The watermelon production in the Dallas-Forth Worth area were not directly influenced by these. Prices were not very high because of an abundance of watermelons from the southern states, and the market was fairly stable. On 14 July, prices for red, seedless watermelons from Texas (35 count) were between 14 and 16 dollar cents per pound (454 grammes), and seeded watermelons were sold between 12 and 14 dollar cents per pound. A stable market is expected in Texas until the end of July.

Some cultivators from Georgia had a bad start to the watermelon season. The spring had bad weather, cold and windy, but it became better after that. It is currently very warm in Georgia, but the quality of the watermelons is good, and the market is also satisfactory.

The watermelon export of Japan to Hong Kong and other Asian countries is lower this season compared to last season. Exporting of watermelons from Japan is quite expensive, in part because domestic demand is increasing, and good prices are given for that. It is expected that the melon market will look well in the coming months. A good demand is expected, as well as good prices. Apparently, more melons are consumed during the Lantern Festival in August.

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