"We just started the Clementine campaign, which arrived very late this year. In some areas the exporters are still carrying out the degreening process," explains David López, of Cítricos Asunción López S.L.
In any case, what is truly causing the Clemenules campaign to be bad are the low prices currently being paid for the fruit. "Prices have plummeted," affirms David. "The market is 'flooded' with Clemenules and Orogrande, which makes it difficult to get reasonable prices. It seems better prices can be obtained selling the Clemenules with leaf."
Cítricos Asunción López exports the Clemenules under the quality brand VIDA.
Besides the large volumes of the product in the market, some also attribute the fall in prices to quality problems. "We had some very hot and dry months until October, and the heavy rains fallen in November damaged the fruit's quality," explains the trading agent José Luís Koninckx. "Many tried selling the clementines quickly, before they got spoiled."
According to exporters, the clementine campaign will suffer a drop in sales due the proximity of Christmas, so they will try selling as much as possible before the second half of December. From January onwards things could recover a little. "Now people are saving money for seafood, wine, exotic fruits and presents for Christmas," they say.
In addition to these problems, Koninckx says that "the Clemenules must also face Morocco's competition, which has already introduced large volumes in the European market."
David López is also in the middle of the Satsuma campaign, which will last until late January. "It is a product with very stable prices if we compare it with the Clemenules, as the market is not as saturated."
At the moment, Cítricos Asunción López has already started exporting Navelines to Poland and Russia, which are markets that demand larger sizes.
For more information:
David López: +34627542499
Antonio López: +34669478121
CITRICOS ASUNCION LOPEZ S.L.U
La Barraca de Aguas Vivas, Valencia (Spain).
T: +34962589146
[email protected]
www.citricosfrial.com