Papaya exports from Brazil are anticipated to return to normal during the second half of 2012 as production rebounds following heavy rains in November and December last year.
Industry sources say heavier-than-normal rainfall cut production and affected fruit quality, which has lead to less fruit and higher prices on the major Northern Hemisphere markets.
Brazil’s biggest papaya supplier, Caliman Agrícola, apparently lost 20 per cent of its volume and importers say overall production has been down by around 40 per cent.
However, with more areas coming into production as of September, papaya specialist HLB told Eurofruit it predicts a significant increase in shipments to the US and Europe with very good-quality fruit.
Papaya production in Ecuador will also increase over the next six months, according to Dutch importer Nature’s Pride, and the country is expecting good volume.
The full report will be published in the August issue of Eurofruit Magazine.
