The lime market in the UK is very strong and is likely to continue in the same vein for a month at least.
Brazil and Mexico have the market almost to themselves apart from some arrivals from Colombia, which traders report have been of poor quality. Nevertheless, these are still selling, such is the paucity of product on the marketplace.
Nick Bainbridge of importer Redbridge Worldfresh said: “In Brazil the local market went very strong and so exporters stopped shipping to the UK.”
Coupled with this, the US market has been robust and Mexico has been late starting its sendings.Bainbridge said: “I don’t think Mexican volumes into the UK are going to pick up until mid-July.”
Now that the market is experiencing high pricing again in the UK, receivers are expecting Brazilian volumes to make more of a showing and continue in strength until August.
“There are a few containers going into Europe, but most of that fruit is taken up by supermarket programmes and foodservice pushing prices right up on the open market,” Bainbridge said.
Mexican fruit on UK wholesale markets made 1100-1225p for 4.5kg cartons this week and supplies from Brazil ran at 1000-1200p for the same weight.
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