The mood in the top fruit market is melancholy and the prospect for the next few weeks isn't much better. "Yet we can't lose faith," says Tony Derwael of Bel'Export. "The year is difficult, the trade is faint but there might be opportunities that we can't see now. It's to be hoped that the prices will go up one way or another."
Apples
In the area of export traders are still feeling the huge pressure from Poland which is becoming stronger year by year. "Apparently they have to get rid of large parties in Poland due to the lesser quality. This means there are large volumes on the market and the apple prices have dropped further. At the moment they are around 30 cents for the good quality. The lesser apples go to industry for less than 1- cents."
Pears
Tony is more positive about pears. "It seems like we will have the stores emptied on time this year, although we have less and less view of the stock. The middle price on Monday March 7 was 50 cents and when you take off the cost of cooling and sorting, there is little left. I think pears are just breaking even, but there is a loss in apples."
Hopes for Germany?
All in all the situation in top fruit is worse than last year. "We started the season back then with a pessimistic feeling, but the market slowly scrambled up. This year it is the opposite." Other markets are being looked at, but no large volumes are going there yet. "Many are looking at Germany, but we will have to wait and see if we can sell anything there. There still seem to be volumes going to Russia, but that could be over next week. There are already Argentinian pears going to Russia. We have to hope with there is light at the end of the tunnels for sales this season. We will know more in a month."
Too much volume
How long will the growers last? Tony doesn't know. "It's hard to say, but if nothing happens it looks gloomy. Poland in particular plays a large role and they are expected to produce 5 million tonnes of apples there within 10 years. Currently it is still under four, so this growth is huge. The worst case scenario is having too much volume."
For more information:
Tony Derwael
Bel'Export
Neremstraat 2
3840 Borgloon - Belgium
Tel +32 12 440 551
www.belexport.com
[email protected]
