Japanese fruit imports fell in April 2012 compared to the prior year period due to unsettled weather which dampened demand, reports Tokyo-based produce consultancy Yamano & Associates.
Volumes reached 262,600 tonnes that month, down 8.6 per cent from 2011, and prices were low, the group said in its market study.
Avocado imports (mainly from Mexico) were 54 per cent down on the prior period, and importers are starting to switch to cheaper Californian (US) fruit, according to the report.
Banana volumes fell by 1 per cent to 95,851 tonnes. Taiwanese bananas sold for the highest prices, followed by Philippine then Ecuadorean product.
Pineapple imports rose by 9.6 per cent during the fourth month to 14,169 tonnes.
Lemon arrivals from California, US, were up by 7.4 per cent in the given period. Prices increased by Y500 in line with fruit size. Californian navel imports, meanwhile, were 21 per cent higher in April.
Imported grapefruit volumes fell by 6.3 per cent. Florida shipments ended at 4.8m cartons, but sales were set to continue until mid-June, although inventory levels in April were half last year’s levels, according to the report. Turkish and Californian grapefruit was on sale in some supermarkets. AEON has switched from Florida to Turkish, Yamano & Associates said.
Mango arrivals in April reached 1,369 tonnes, down from 14.4 per cent the prior year. April to June is the high season for Philippine mango, which is used as a gift during this period, according to the report. Kent mangoes from Peru end in late April. Tommy Atkins mangoes from Mexico start in late April.
Papaya imports rose by 9.9 per cent during the selected period. Interest in Hawaiian papaya is increasing in the food-service and grocery sector, the group said. Philippine papayas are a regular low-price product for retailers and sizes tend to be large.
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