Table Grapes:
Chilean table grape arrivals on the USEC from Chile continue in light volume as the window on the Southern Hemisphere season closes and as production of California’s desert grapes ramp up and Mexico’s Sonora harvest gets underway.
In week 18, Chilean shippers loaded 133 metric tons of table grapes to the USEC and 262 metric tons to the USWC bringing total US shipments through week 18 to 332,680 metric tons, down 3.6 percent from last season’s 345,246 metric tons shipped through the same week. Lighter loadings to the USEC were responsible for the decrease with total USEC shipments through week 18 at 245,226 metric tons, down 6 percent from the 261,162 shipped through the same week last season. But in the west, total shipments through week 18 are at 87,455 metric tons representing a 4 percent increase over the 84,084 metric tons loaded through the same week in 2017.
In week 19, the USEC retail appetite for Chilean Crimson Seedless is diminishing resulting in prices that are down a notch from last week. X-Large (900) are at US$ 14– 16, Large (700) are at US$ 12 – 14 and Medium (500) are at US$ 10 - 12. The first Flames from Mexico are selling at US$ 28 – 30.
Chilean Thompson Seedless volumes are also winding down. With few white seedless options available in the market apart from Mexican Perlettes, Chilean storage Thompsons are still moving in light volume at US$ 42 or more. But in the wholesale markets, one can find a wide range of Thompson Seedless qualities at an equally wide range of prices.
Imported Red Globes remain in their comfort zone of US$ 16 – 18.
Citrus – Easy Peelers:
As expected, the easy peeler market is heating up as California’s mandarin season winds down. With only light shipments left to complete the season, most of which will stay west, California mandarins are selling at US$ 38 - 40 for 10 x 3 bags. On the import side, the Chilean clementine crop is running a few days later than last season with only 1,751 metric tons having loaded to the USEC through week 18. These volumes will increase over the next few weeks as the harvest gains momentum.
Peruvian shippers have loaded 209 thousand cases of clementines (Primasole) and satsumas (Okitsu) with volumes expected to increase in the next few weeks as the Owari satsumas and clementine volumes increase.
The USEC soft citrus offering today is principally Peruvian Primasoles and satsumas and some Uruguayan satsumas and early clementines. Chilean clementines will shortly be available in limited volume.
USEC soft citrus pricing is at US$ 36 – 38 (some US$ 40) for 10 x 3 lbs for clementines and US$ 32 – 36 for satsumas. USWC pricing is US$ 2 - 4 higher. As clementine arrivals increase, the price differential between satsumas and clementines will likely widen. But, in general, we expect prices to continue at these levels, and perhaps higher, through May.
For more information:
Mark Greenberg
Capespan North America
Tel: +1 (514) 739 9181