This week the estimate for USA prune crop is out. The estimated crop size is larger than 2013, some 15% however if we consider the previous 5 year average it is still a ‘smallish’ crop in USA terms. The fruit bearing orchard figure is down and we hear each year of farmers ripping out prune trees and putting their money into almonds. From a global perspective this news out of USA will not significantly effect the market, it is not a bumper crop. Chile has been selling good quantities to date and Argentina has a very small crop following severe frosts earlier on in the year. It is too early to say where USA price levels will open but once that info is known we will have a better idea of where the Chilean market will continue trading at. At present however the market seems to remain firm and steady.<\/p>\n
Something also to consider is that USA has a very large domestic demand so we can assume that a large tonnage of this quantity will be consumed internally and not for offer to the external market.<\/p>\n