The Italian kiwi campaign is ending on a positive note as, luckily, domestic production went back to normal after last year's overproduction.
Sales were rather lively right from the start, with stocks much lower than last year. The data collected by CSO Italy highlights remaining volumes 24% lower in late November against the 22% of saleable produce in the beginning.
Destocking was active throughout the season, widening the difference with the past campaign. Demand remained active also during the Christmas period, when consumption usually decreases, thanks to the limited quantities available. At the end of the year, stocks were 26% lower than the previous year and reached -31% at the end of January. The good sale flow was also due to the lower pressure exerted by the Greek produce on the various foreign destination markets - quotations were lower as usual, but the difference wasn't as big as during the previous campaign.
The turning point occurred during the second half of February: as the Greek produce became less available, it became easier to place the produce on the foreign markets and quotations increased.
The low volumes available made it possible to make a selection right from the start of the campaign in order to follow schedules with regular clients and to guarantee the right remuneration.
Selections were carried out especially for those grades with little produce available, since most of the fruit available was of medium grade.
At the end of March, stocks were 47% lower than in the previous campaign and dropped to -60% in late April. Quotations were rather positive, as medium grade prices were higher than during the 2015/16 campaign.
Larger grades also registered good prices and the domestic market was actually at times preferred as it was more profitable. Profits were good also for punnet grades thanks to the non excessive quantities available.
On the foreign markets (Germany and similar), grade 27 fruit in 10 kg loose crates was sold at €1.15/kg on average in early January, €1.20/kg in late February and €1.50/kg after Easter.
Grade 30 in 10kg loose crates were sold at €1.03-1.05/kg in January and reached €1.20/kg in March due to the lower pressure of Greek competition and continued to increase as high as the €1.40/kg of late April.
For 12-fruit crates, quotations were €1.00/kg at the start of the year but increased as of mid-February with €1.05/kg reaching €1.10/kg in mid-March and €1.30/kg in late April.
Prices are expected to increase further during the last few weeks of commercialisation.
The campaign can therefore be considered positive thanks to the favourable factors that contributed such as: good quality and shelf-life of the produce throughout the campaign, non-excessive Italian and European supply, good winter temperatures pushing consumption. To this, we must add the low Greek competition. Initial expectations were therefore met, even though the lower produce available combined with the higher prices must also be considered.
Source: CSO for FreshPlaza
Prices are expected to increase further during the last few weeks of commercialisation.
The campaign can therefore be considered positive thanks to the favourable factors that contributed such as: good quality and shelf-life of the produce throughout the campaign, non-excessive Italian and European supply, good winter temperatures pushing consumption. To this, we must add the low Greek competition. Initial expectations were therefore met, even though the lower produce available combined with the higher prices must also be considered.
Source: CSO for FreshPlaza