After a great period for overseas figs, it’s now a bit calmer on the market for the first time in three months. Brazilian and Peruvian product is now on the market, and the South African season has now also started. This year, a shift will occur on the global fig market, for it will be the first time figs are available nearly year-round.
“January is traditionally the calmer fig month with low volumes and limited demand. We’ve noticed production anticipating this by not sending a lot of product, but large volumes are expected from week 8 to week 20. On the other hand, November and December are great months due to large demand around the holidays. Towards Easter demand for figs will recover,” says Edwin Janssen of BUD Holland. “The overseas fig season from Peru is currently leading for BUD Holland, while this was Brazil at first. If Brazil doesn’t respond to the tendency changes, it will become uncertain whether they’ll be able to continue as in the past and market the area for good prices. Argentina also supplies figs, but to a lesser extent than Peru and Brazil. They sometimes fill the gaps during the holidays. I’ve seen hardly any Argentinian figs on the European market this year. The South African fig season also had a flying start, but they mostly supply smaller sizes and the mini-fig, although in much smaller volumes than the South African product.”
Competition
In recent years, Peru extended its fig area considerably, and they’ll go from a seasonal period to a nearly year-round period for the first time this year. “Yet the Peruvian figs won’t be appealing for European companies in the summer months, because Peru can’t compete with prices of, among others, Turkish and Spanish product. This is because South American figs are mostly transported via air freight, and are therefore in a different price class. Last year, the Turkish figs were sold for prices between €2.50 and €5.50 per box. You can’t compete with that when you have overseas product. However, a slight tendency can be seen on the market of various players importing per boat, but BUD Holland isn’t ready for that yet,” Edwin says.
Toro Sentado
The Peruvian figs of BUD Holland are black figs of the Toro Sentado variety. “This fig is more like European figs than the Brazilian green fig. The green fig looks a bit nicer and stabler than the black fig in appearance, but the black version wins regarding flavour,” Edwin continues. The fig consumption is gradually growing in Europe, particularly in the Scandinavian countries, the UK and Germany, but also in Southern Europe. In the past, figs were only popular among consumers with ethnic backgrounds. Nowadays, figs are often used in salads, dishes and marmalade. Figs are also well-suited to the popular healthy life styles getting a lot of attention nowadays.
Due to the expansion of the Peruvian fig area, the country is now looking for new markets besides Europe and the US. “Asia offers a completely new market for Peru and other countries. Yet this year, more Peruvian product will be sent to Europe, and that’s why it’ll be tense in July and August when European and Turkish figs arrive on the market. Hopefully, Peru won’t be on the market by then,” Edwin concludes.
More information
BUD Holland
Edwin Janssen
Transportweg 67
2676 LM Maasdijk
The Netherlands
T +31 (0)174 535 302
edwin@bud.nl
exotics@bud.nl
www.bud.nl