For a period of almost two weeks, Brazilian papaya producers were not able to export their product as a trucker’s strike brought the country to a standstill.
Florida-based HLB Specialties was impacted as the company imports Brazilian papayas into the US, as well as ships them to Germany. After two weeks of uncertainty, there is good news. “The strike is easing up,” says Melissa Hartmann de Barros with HLB Specialties. Blockades have been removed from the roads and gas stations are getting refueled. “We are again receiving shipments,” she added. “Loads to Miami resumed as of Friday night and shipments to the west coast facilities resumed a day later.“ Papayas fly out of the airports in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Due to the strikes, HLB Specialties lost Brazilian papaya sales for a volume between 60 and 80 tons. According to local reports, 1.3 million pounds of papayas were not exported from Brazil during a period of almost two weeks, which translated into a loss for Brazilian papaya producers of roughly US$13 million.
Regaining lost market
Most of HLB’s customers sympathize with the situation and have already resumed orders as usual. “However, there are a few that have looked for other alternatives and it may take some time to regain that lost market,” Hartmann de Barros mentioned. “Since Hawaii is also having problems as a result of volcanic activity, the market as a whole has seen a sharp decrease in offerings of solo papayas.” Reduced offerings don’t seem to have a significant impact on prices as production in the northern hemisphere is ramping up due to increasing temperatures.
For more information:
Melissa Hartmann de Barros
HLB Specialties
Tel: (+1) 954-475-8808