A reduced crop of Italian kiwifruit coupled with the start of the new academic year point towards good expectations for Southern Hemisphere kiwifruit sales in Europe this season.
According to Chilean market intelligence agency SimFRUIT, Italian kiwifruit is down by an important volume during 2010/11, which should provide greater space on the European market during September for sales of imported kiwifruit, alongside the new school year which is expected to re-activate the market.
In particular, SimFRUIT said Chilean kiwifruit supplied in a controlled-atmosphere environment has met with favourable conditions in Europe with sufficient demand, active sales and prices above last season.
The number of European importers and marketers handling Chilean kiwifruit has also contracted this season, which SimFRUIT claims has given stability to the market.
During week 33, Chile exported 1,639 tonnes of kiwifruit to Europe, SimFRUIT said, down 13.5 per cent on the 2008/09 season.
During the same period, sendings to Russia, meanwhile, have risen by 7.1 per cent.
SimFRUIT estimates that Chilean exports will increase in week 34, with some 2,845 tonnes of the fruit set to arrive in Europe, and an additional 293 tonnes in Russia.
New Zealand has also had strong offer of kiwifruit for the European market, according to SimFRUIT, where currently stable prices could increase over the next few weeks.
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