“We started harvesting our yellow pitahaya in the beginning of September. The volumes are on the low side, because we didn´t have a good flowering period. In Ecuador, we have two harvests a year of yellow pitahaya. The beginning of this year has been dramatic with an oversupply in Hong Kong, which caused low prices.”, said Xavier from Organpit.
He explains that the majority of the volume from Ecuador is exported to Asia, excluding China which isn´t open for export yet. “Over the past few years production has been increasing, with the idea of a growing demand and opening up new markets. However, it has become an uncertain market for the producers and exporters at the moment. Prices are very unstable and there is not enough space in the market if the volumes keep growing. Therefore, producers are in doubt whether to invest in the growth of production.”
United States open for export
“It’s good that the United States market opened up for our export. However, it’s going to take a while before this will become the bigger volumes. Countries outside Asia, aren´t as familiar with the yellow pitahaya. The demand from these countries is far from what we would get from China for example.”
Xavier concludes by explaining that if China won´t open its borders soon there is no good alternative market for the yellow pitahaya from Ecuador. “I am afraid it will be the same situation over and over again. This will hold back the investments in the growth of production. While we need producers to invest in their production, because if the Chinese market opens we need a bigger supply of volume. It’s a difficult situation for us producers at the moment.”
For more information:
Xavier Mejía Román
Organpit
Tel: +593 32313100
Cel: +593 983393755
E: xmejia@organpit.com