The recent market for imported fruits has been notably subdued, with an influx of fruit arrivals not meeting anticipated demand. This mismatch has led to sluggish sales, propelling a more rapid decline in the market than seen in previous years. Conversely, the market has seen the introduction of Australian mandarins and a notable increase in the volume of Thai coconuts.
A limited quantity of Australian mandarins has been introduced to the market. Due to the small volumes available, prices are currently higher than they were last year at launch, though traders anticipate a downward adjustment soon. Despite the sourness of the newly arrived citrus, its overall quality is high.
Australian mandarins.
In the case of Peruvian avocados, there has been a steady rise in arrivals, yet market demand remains weak. The current heatwave further complicates storage conditions for avocados, contributing to a price drop in recent weeks. Merchants have noted that the prices for #22 and #24 avocados have fallen to ¥90-¥95 per piece, a 15%-20% decrease from two weeks prior, and significantly lower than prices at the same time in previous years. Market inventory for the same sizes is around ¥70 per piece. Despite the higher quality of the new arrivals, the primary cause for the market downturn is attributed to the declining demand.
Left: Washington cherries; Right: South African oranges.
The market for South African grapefruit, Washington cherries, and Egyptian oranges is experiencing similar shifts. South African grapefruit prices have seen a slight decrease; Washington cherries, specifically 9R size, are currently selling for ¥450-¥550 per piece, marking a slight decrease of one to two percent from last week. Traders note that while the higher quality batches command better prices due to their quality and taste, overall sales are sluggish. Egyptian orange prices are fluctuating, with high-quality fruits priced around ¥120-¥130 per piece, a decrease from previous years. These oranges are facing reduced volume and quality, with the market more commonly offering fruits at ¥60-¥80 per piece.
Left: Thai durians; Right: Peruvian avocados.
Thai durians, mainly sourced from southern Thailand, have seen a price adjustment. Last week, the market was more focused on the Thai "volcano" durian, with A6 size priced at ¥800-¥820 per piece. This week, with varied arrivals, the price for A6 size durians has adjusted to about ¥650-¥720 per piece.
The Thai coconut market is also witnessing changes, with the price for large young coconuts decreasing from a peak of ¥150-¥160 per piece two weeks ago to ¥120 per piece. Despite this price drop, it remains higher than in previous years, but the volume of fruits continues to show improvement.
Dried apricots.
Dali winter jujubes have seen a sharp price increase due to unstable weather conditions and limited supply in the latter half of last week. However, with weather improvements at the origin this week, both the quantity and prices have shown signs of recovery.