Exports in October were 8,897 tons compared to 9,676 tons last year.
Year to date exports are 28,675 tons compared to 25,342 tons last year. That is a significant increase of 13% over last year.
Exports continue to impress spurred by the lack of carryover and short positions at the end of last crop.
We believe that over 40% of the available tonnage has now been shipped. The remaining stocks of sulphured apricots are on the whole committed for export and domestic consumption over the next 9 months.
There’s no significant tonnage of sulphured fruit in the market in Malatya, growers are out, some traders may be holding small quantities back, but to a great extent the season is done.
Unsulphured fruit prices have increase further on demand from China and domestic consumers.
A significant proportion of international buyers are still uncovered, in particular those buyers who buy on a calendar year basis. They had been holding back hoping for a window that never materialized.