"Pears and apples from the Rio Negro Valley in Argentina have established themselves as essential products in Europe, the United States and Brazil. This year, the production has reached record volumes, boosted by favorable weather conditions; however, it has also faced significant challenges in saturated markets and fluctuations in the demand," says Franco Gonzalo Castro, manager of the Argentinian company Don Clemente SRL.
The company focuses its exports on demanding markets such as Europe, the United States, Brazil and, most notably, Russia. "This year, we have experienced an increase in pear production thanks to favorable weather conditions, which has led to oversupply, especially in markets such as Brazil," says Castro. However, this abundance has caused some oversupply, which has put downward pressure on prices. There are still considerable pear stocks.
By being strategically located near the port of San Antonio Este, Don Clemente SRL has managed to minimize logistical challenges, as it has easy access to both land and sea transport. "We offer an efficient service that is allowing us to consolidate our containerized cargo shipments to international destinations," says Castro. The war in Russia, for example, reconfigured the logistics routes, allowing greater flexibility in the use of containers.
Logistics to Russia have undergone major changes since the war began, as the availability and cost of containerized shipments have been affected. Traditionally, transport was mostly containerized, but this is now more expensive and less accessible due to restrictions and adjustments in shipping routes. "Now, a more viable alternative is shipping fruit in dedicated ship holds, which reduces costs and ensures a more constant flow to this market," says the manager.
There is constant competition with countries such as South Africa, especially due to their proximity to key markets in Europe and Russia, which allows them to arrive with fresh fruit before Argentina. "In spite of this, our pears and apples are recognized for their superior quality and size, which gives us a competitive edge," says Castro.
The company guarantees the quality of its products through strict controls and certifications such as GlobalGAP and recently also Fairtrade. These standards are essential to meet international demands and retain the trust of global consumers.
The coming year presents a mixed picture. "The situation in Europe seems normal in terms of volumes, but a lower pear production is expected in the United States, which could be beneficial for our exports," says Castro. However, uncertainty in markets such as Russia and rising production costs in Argentina pose constant challenges.
For more information:
Franco Gonzalo Castro
Don Clemente SRL
Río Negro, Argentina
Tel.: +54 2984 670465
[email protected]
www.grupocastro.com.ar