"About 65% of these volumes are exported to Europe," continues the producer, and lists the ports where the shipments arrive, in the United Kingdom, the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Northern Europe. "We try to spread out the production to reach all these points."
The Brazilian company Finobrasa is part of the agricultural branch of the Vicunha group, which covers many commercial sectors. Finobrasa, founded 30 years ago, produces and exports mangoes and grapes, and since 2000, it has been studying the requirements and priorities of the European market and increased its plantings of non-fibrous mango varieties, such as the Keitt, Kent and Palmer, while continuing to work with the Tommy Atkins, which is the variety that the US market prefers according to Altamir. The company owns 1,000 hectares of mangoes and exports about 3.5 million boxes per year.
"The market for mangoes has remained stable this past year," explains the producer. Good volumes have been received from around the world and prices have not recorded any big changes. "In Brazil, we have mangoes during the last three months of the year, with very small volumes, which are now slowly increasing." He explains that they no longer see the huge volumes reached five or six years ago, when everyone’s fruit concentrated in the second half of the year, and believes it is good that companies are trying to spread out their volumes throughout the year. "I predict things to go well in the second semester because Brazil has divided its volumes, with roughly half going to the United States and the other half to Europe."
As for prices in Europe, he expects them not to fall below 5 € for a while, although they have dropped slightly due to the increase in the volume from Brazil. Currently, Tommy Atkins mangoes cost around 6 €, although not much information is available about the Spanish season this year. Moreover, in the United States, the Mexican season is very strong right now. The US market always imports Mexican mangoes, but the Mexican season ends in August, according to the producer. "From late August to October, it is the time for the Brazilian season; a time when only Brazil supplies mangoes to the United States. September/October is a fantastic moment for Brazil," he affirms.
Besides mangoes, Finobrasa is also exploring a new market: grapes. The company started growing grapes two years ago and, from a single plantation in the region of Petrolina, it has expanded its acreage and now has about 100 hectares of seedless grapes, although the plan is to expand to 250 hectares in a period of two to three years. "Exports of Brazilian grapes very much concentrate between October and December, as there is so much competition and it is impossible to do it earlier. During the other months, the production is intended mainly for the local market," explains Martins. "We hope to export about 60 containers this year, approximately 115,000 boxes, but this volume will increase," he predicts.
Growth is slow due to the impact of drought in the region of Petrolina. "There's a lake which is the most important source of water for irrigation, but now it is only at 23% of its capacity," he laments. He explains that there are two major production regions: the south and the north. It is in the north where the company has about 800 hectares of mangoes and its main packaging plant. "This region is closer to the sea, so we have more opportunities to get water. We dig wells, from where we obtain a good volume of groundwater." This is a difficult time, but fortunately, the forecast is that things will improve soon, and in January, the rains will arrive, as they usually do, according to Martins.
More information:Altamir G. Martins - Director of Operations
FINOBRASA AGROINDUSTRIAL S. A.
T: +55 84 3335-2216
M: +55 84 99138-4293
E: altamir@finoagro.com.br
www.finoagro.com.br