The global peach and nectarine crop is estimated to fall 5% to 21.0 million tons, due to adverse weather conditions in top producers China and the EU, according to USDA/FAS data. The reduced harvest is expected to lower global exports. 

The world’s 2020 cherry production is expected to forecast to rise 1.5% to 3.9 million tons, due to a rise in outpUS as the second largest exporter. Exports are further boosted by Turkey gaining market access to Chinut in Turkey, Chile, and China, which more than offset losses in the EU and US, according to USDA/FAS data. Increased supplies are expected to increase exports slightly to 503,000 tons, especially from Chile and Turkey.

As China’s economy begins to recover, Chilean fruit exporters breathe a sigh of relief.  At a virtual conference organised by Fedefruta on Wednesday, Chile’s ambassador to China, Luis Schmidt, said that Chilean fruit exports had increased in recent months, as China gets back onto its feet after the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, Chile has been intensifying its efforts to comply with China’s demanding phytosanitary regulations. 

Turkey is set to become a key player in Asian fruit and vegetable markets. The country is currently in advanced negotiations to secure access for its wide range of fresh produce to key markets such as China, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines, among others. Turkey’s Minister of Trade, Ruhsar Pekcan announced the acceleration in the country’s plan to diversify its fresh fruit and vegetable exports. Turkey currently is authorised to ship cherries to China and South Korea. Pekcan said that she soon expects China to authorise shipments of Turkish citrus, apples, grapes and pomegranate.

Global peach and nectarine harvest is expected to set a new record of 22.3 million tons in 2019 (+10%), as orchards in China, the EU, and the US recover from the weather-hit 2018 campaign, according to USDA data. The growth in supply is expected to boost imports and exports. 

EU imports of fresh tomato have climbed steadily since 2015, from 481,000 tons to 628,000 tons in 2018. The largest non-EU supplier by far is Morocco. Imports from the North African country climbed 10.7% in 2018 to reach 449,700 tons. While tomato exports from Turkey plummeted between 2009 and 2013 (from 105,000 tons to 29,000 tons), they have since risen steadily, reaching 108,000 tons in 2018 – an increase of 6.5% from 2017. Israel is no longer the major source of tomatoes it once was. Between 2009 and 2018, shipment volumes fell from 25,000 tons to just 639 tons.

The EU’s fruit and vegetable trade deficit has narrowed in the last twelve months. While imports of fresh vegetables were up 9% between May 2018 and May 2019, imports to the EU of fresh fruits were down 19%. If we look at the detail, citrus fruit imports fell by 26%, while tropical fruit imports rose 6%.

EU agri-food exports remain strong, with the March 2019 level matching the record level of March 2017 (€12.6 billion) or 7% higher than in March 2018, according to data from the European Commission. Meanwhile, agri-food imports in March totalled €10.1 billion (1.9% up from March 2018). The greatest increases in monthly export values in the past year were recorded for China (+€125 million), the US (+€119 million) and Egypt (+€103 million). The largest falls in exports were to Saudi Arabia (-€96 million) and South Korea (-€24 million).

The world’s appetite for the sweet superfood shows no signs of abating, with markets across the world expanding. Production struggles to keep pace with demand, prompting increased shipments from all corners of the globe throughout the year. Peru may soon overtake Chile as the world’s leading blueberry exporter. US consumers are particularly hungry for blueberries.

The US has announced it will withdraw from the tomato suspension agreement with Mexico by May 7, 2019, although this does not mean the end of negotiations. According to the RaboResearch, the withdrawal could still be avoided if both parties can reach a renewed suspension agreement.