EU Food Imports: Trade Data You Need to Know

Currencies: Brazil's Real Ends Weaker, Mirroring Major Currencies

2009-07-07T11:12:00.001-04:00

July 6, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

The Brazilian real closed weaker against the U.S. dollar Monday in line with most major currencies. The real closed at BRL1.9610 per dollar in trading on the Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange, weaker than Friday's close at BRL1.9505.Traders said the real's weakening Monday was due to the dollar's worldwide strengthening on increased investor risk aversion. The real opened weaker Monday at ... read more...

Italy: Trade of tomatoes in Italy

2009-07-07T11:07:00.001-04:00

July 3, 2009 - Fructidor.com

Italy is both a major exporter and a major importer of tomato products, primarily because there is a tremendous amount of intra-industry trade. Italy imports a substantial quantity as inputs for further processing. After the U.S., China is a major source for these imports. Most of the tomato product imports into Italy ... read more...

EU countries should be able to ban genetically modified plants

2009-07-07T08:33:00.000-04:00

June 25, 2006 - GMO Compass

At their meeting in Luxembourg on 25 June, EU ministers for the environment discussed among other issues this proposal raised by Austria and other countries. No concrete decisions were made. The document was presented as an Austrian initiative and suggests that GM plants ... read more...

EFSA opinions give Monsanto new Euro confidence

2009-07-01T17:07:00.000-04:00

June 30, 2009 - foodproductiondaily.com

The European Food Safety Authority has issued positive opinions on the safety of Monsanto’s MON 810 corn trait and Roundup Ready 2 corn product, giving the firm confidence that Europe could become more accepting of genetic modification. ... read more...

Ready-to-eat, a growing sector

2009-06-24T12:35:00.002-04:00

June 8, 2009 - GreenMed Journal

In ten years sales of ready-to-eat vegetables have tripled in Italy.

Ready-to-use vegetables' consumption have tripled in the last ten years, as they meet the need to save time without giving up the consumption of wholesome foods that are necessary to keep good health and fitness. This is the comment of Italian farmers' association Coldiretti about the boom of ... read more...

Monsanto, Dole in 5-Year Vegetable Collaboration

2009-06-24T09:41:00.000-04:00

Reuters - June 23, 2009

Chicago - Monsanto Co and Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc said on Tuesday that they would collaborate to develop vegetables that could be more attractive to consumers.

Monsanto and Dole said they would use plant breeding to improve the nutrition, flavor, color, texture, taste and aroma of the vegetables. The five-year collaboration will focus on broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and spinach, the companies said. If new products were created under the collaboration, they could be commercialized by Dole in North America.

Loosing pounds, not so healthy after all for British consumers…

2009-06-23T23:38:00.001-04:00

by David Ivanovic

The staggering numbers extracted from Eurostat show an important decrease in EU imports of horticultural products. Let’s cut straight to the point: the recession that is engulfing the majority of European countries is one, if not the major underlying reason. Another cause behind the reduction of imported fresh products, especially in Great Britain, is the devaluation of the British pound, which has lost a 25% of its value in 2008 against the euro. At the beginning of last year, 100 pounds could get you almost 140 euros; on New Year’s Eve, the same amount was only worth €100.

This week, the pound regained its November value, climbing up by 15% since its all time low value of January. Let’s see if the growth momentum will keep going and bring back the levels of imports to what they used to be. Because when someone stops buying, someone at the other end of the supply chain is having a hard time too. Eating more mangoes and papayas will be good for everyone.

Recession hits UK exotics consumption

2009-06-22T15:33:00.002-04:00

note from David: well it's kind of official, look in my earlier posts the data for papaya (still a minor product compared to pineapples or mangoes) the dramatic first three months of 2009.

June 22, 2009 - Reefer Trend
The sales value of tropical fruits such as pineapples, mangoes and melons has dropped by 5.5% with volumes falling even more steeply

UK: Co-op uses new labelling to promote eco-awareness

2009-06-22T11:58:00.001-04:00

June 19, 2009 - International Supermarket News

The Co-op has introduced new labelling on bags used to store fresh produce, detailing how to best keep them for maximum freshness and longevity. This eco-friendly initiative is part of the Love Food Hate Waste project launched by the government. Like other retailers - perhaps Marks and Spencer most notably - Co-op is waging a war on waste. British consumers ... read more...

The range of fair trade, sustainable products in EU retailers is insufficient

2009-06-22T11:54:00.000-04:00

June 19, 2009 - GreenPlanet

European consumers are dissatisfied with the availability of environmentally friendly or ethically produced products, according to the latest European Commission's survey on consumers satisfaction just released. The detailed reports published this week by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumers on consumer satisfaction cover different product sectors (8 total) throughout ... read more...

A tough start for papaya imports in 2009 (correction)

2009-06-19T01:43:00.001-04:00

by David Ivanovic – June 18, 2009

There was a slight mistake in my table (the years were wrong!) Here’s the good one.

A tough start for papaya imports in 2009

2009-06-18T19:14:00.001-04:00

by David Ivanovic – June 18, 2009

Between January and March this year, total shipments to EU countries are down by 19% in comparison with the same period in 2008, from 8,900 to 7,150 metric tonnes. Except for Ivory Coast, Pakistan and India, the majority of fresh papaya suppliers have been hit by lower demand.

Figures represent direct imports from non-European countries to the EU15, and therefore do not take into account shipments within Europe (for instance, between Netherlands and Germany).

EU15 Papaya Imports in 2008

2009-06-18T09:27:00.001-04:00

by David Ivanovic

Imports of fresh papayas by the EU15 totalled 37,293 tons in 2008, up by 2.5% from levels recorded in 2007, despite important drops from Brazilian (-6%) and Ecuadorian suppliers (-23%).

Papayas from Cote d’Ivoire increased by nearly 100% between the two years, securing 10% of the market share in Europe.

24 EU Countries to Start School Fruit and Vegetable Snack Programs

2009-06-17T11:21:00.000-04:00

by United Fresh - June 11, 2009

Creating a huge opportunity for the fresh and fresh-cut produce industry to capitalize on sales to schools, the European Commission's DG-AGRI is making €90 million available annually as matching funds for EU countries to provide daily fruit and vegetable snacks to school children. 24 of the 27 EU countries submitted applications this week for portions of that funding to either start or expand School Fruit and Vegetable Schemes in their countries by the start of the school year ... read more ...

Fresh tomato imports in 2008

2009-06-16T20:08:00.001-04:00

by David Ivanovic - June 16, 2009

For the year 2008, EU15 countries imported a total of 331,258 tons of fresh tomatoes, with a CIF value of €261 millions.

Out of that impressive figure, 90% were supplied by Morocco. More than 80% of the North African origin went to France, while 10% were imported by Spain.

EU Banana Imports: Latin America Stronger than Ever!

2009-06-16T18:18:00.001-04:00

by David Ivanovic – June 16, 2009

Impressive Eurostat numbers, at least for your humble “data cruncher”, are showing no signs of slowing down in the European banana business. In 2008, 4.6 million tons have been imported by the EU15 countries; import volumes (from non-European origins) have grown by more than 36% between 2004 and 2008. The banana “oligarchy” (70% of total imports controlled by Colombia, Ecuador and Costa Rica) continues to maintain and increase its presence, and European demand shows no sign of wading.

As Colombian shipments arrived at a rate of 17% annually (!), volumes from West Africa (Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire) have rebounded in 2008, surpassing for the first time the levels recorded five years ago.

Avocado Imports from Non-European Origins, 2000-2008

2009-06-12T13:24:00.001-04:00

by David Ivanovic

EU-15 imports have fresh avocadoes have experienced a very important rise over the last years, from levels around 100,000 tons in the early 2000s to 180,000 t. last year.

South Africa is the traditional EU supplier, however avocado shipments from Peru have grown significantly. In 2008, both the African and South American suppliers had a market share of 29%. Regarding Israel, another major player in the avocado industry, its shipments have shrunk by nearly 20% during the last five years.

EU Pineapple Imports in 2008 / 1st part

2009-06-08T01:35:00.003-04:00

by David Ivanovic

In 2008, pineapple imports for the EU-15 have witnessed another big jump in terms of pineapple shipments. Between 2004 and 2008, arrivals have grown by nearly 80%, representing an annual growth rate of 15%.

Costa Rica is the main locomotive in this highly competitive market, growing from 250,000 metric tonnes in 2004 to 670,000 four years later. Latin American suppliers are confirming their leaderships while traditionnal West African suppliers are progressively switching their products from Smooth Cayenne to MD-2 varieties.

In 2008, pineapple imports recorded a CIF value of €595 million.

EU Mango Market Share in 2008

2009-06-08T01:35:00.001-04:00

by David Ivanovic

In 2008, Brazil was once more the most important suppliers of fresh mangoes to the EU-15 countries. More than 95,000 metric tonnes, or roughly 40% of total imports, originated from this origin.

The rapidly expanding Peruvian market share represented 22% during the same period (only 12% in 2004).

Ireland: Fyffes expands pineapple operations

2009-06-02T13:18:00.001-04:00

Fruit and vegetable importer Fyffes has bought a pineapple plantation and other related assets in Panama in Central America in a deal worth around $8m.

Fyffes is buying the assets from Agroindustries Golden West (GOPA). The operation covers around 450 hectares.

Fyffes says that, combined with its existing pineapple farms in Costa Rica, it expects to be the direct producer of around 50% of the pineapples it markets in 2010.
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The cost of the deal includes debt acquired and deferred payments.

Source: rte.ie

Publication date: 5/12/2009

Philippines: Mindanao’s pineapple export sales rise 42%

2009-06-02T13:17:00.001-04:00

Mindanao’s pineapple industry posted robust growth last year despite the global economic downturn, generating export sales of $352.3 million, official data showed.

Pineapple export sales last year were 42.17% more than the previous year’s $247.8 million, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics said in a report released recently.

The United States and Japan, two of the countries affected by the global financial turmoil, bought at least 60% of the country’s pineapple exports in 2008. Japan took the bulk of fresh pineapple, while the US bought canned products.

The volume of exports reached 809,315 metric tons (MT) in 2008, up 37.36% from the previous year’s 589,206 MT.

Mindanao produces nearly 90% of the country’s pineapples, a large part of which comes from Northern Mindanao (Region 10) and Central Mindanao (Region 12 or Soccsksargen), specifically in the form of canned products.

Northern Mindanao is home to the pineapple farms of Del Monte Philippines, Inc., while Region 12 hosts Dole Philippines, Inc. (Dolefil).

The Davao Region also exports mostly fresh pineapple to Japan.

Pineapple production in 2008 rose by 9.6% to 2.2 million MT from 2 million MT the previous year. "The gain was attributed to area expansion in Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen. Producers were encouraged by the increasing market demand," the report explained.

Area planted to pineapple rose to 58,000 hectares from 54,000 hectares in 2007.

Source: bworldonline.com

Publication date: 5/20/2009

Spain, Imports from non-EU countries on the rise

2009-06-02T13:16:00.001-04:00

Non-EU countries´ share in the Spanish imports of fruits and vegetables in recent years has been growing to the detriment of EU countries, accounting for 40.7% of total imports to Spain, versus 33.2% five years ago.

Spanish imports of fruits and vegetables in 2008 stood at 2.6 million tons, of which 1.5 million were imported from the EU (59.2% of the total) while 1.06 million tonnes corresponded to products from non-EU countries, 40.7% of the total. Five years ago, in 2004, the EU accounted for 66.7% of Spanish imports and third countries 33.2%.

The share of non-EU countries in the Spanish import market is higher for fruits than for vegetables. Spanish fruit imports in 2008 amounted to 1.3 million tons, of which 65% (848,047 tonnes) from countries outside the EU, while 456,275 tons were from EU countries.

The main fruits imported to Spain are citrus, apples, bananas, pineapple and kiwifruits. For all these products the major suppliers are non-EU countries, especially Latin America, except for apples, that are imported mostly from France. In Spain imports from third countries account for 79% of the total for citrus fruits, 87% for bananas, 50% for kiwifruits and 81% for pineapple.

Spanish vegetable imports in 2008 amounted to 1.3 million tons, of which 221,183 tonnes, 17% of the total, were from third countries, according to data from the Directorate General of Customs in Spain, processed by FEPEX.

Source: fruttaonline.it

Publication date: 5/25/2009

UK: Asda suppliers under pressure

2009-03-24T23:28:00.000-04:00

Asda is putting the squeeze on suppliers by demanding lower prices to boost its fire power in an intensifying price war with rivals such as Tesco, writes The Observer.

The supermarket has embarked on a round of "tough" negotiations with all major suppliers, including multinationals such as Unilever. The pricing terms of nearly all 30,000 products in its stores are under scrutiny with suppliers asked to offer better terms.

Source: thegrocer.co.uk

Publication date: 3/24/2009

Russia: custom reform leads to deficiency of fruit and vegetable produce

2009-03-12T13:39:00.001-04:00

Custom reform that was brought by the Government of Russia in Moscow leaded to price increase for imported fruit and vegetable produce and deficiency of this produce on the domestic market. The leading specialists report that reduction of custom terminals will lead to decrease of high quality produce presented on the market, trade deficiency and further increase of inflation.

Should be noted that during February of the current year, imports of fruits and vegetables to Russia decreased by 8 %, compared to the last year.

Source: lol.org.ua

Publication date: 3/12/2009

UK: Fruit firm hit by rising costs

2009-03-12T13:38:00.001-04:00

Tropical fruits firm Fyffes has reported a drop in profits after suffering "unprecedented" increases in the costs of its produce, shipping and fuel.

The Dublin-based distributor said favourable exchange rates and increases in the price at which fruit was sold went some way to mitigate rising costs, but could not fully offset their impact.

Adjusted pre-tax profits for 2008 were 15.9 million euros (£14.7 million), down from 18.4 million euro (£17 million) the previous year. Chairman David McCann said the results were slightly ahead of target and market expectations.

The pineapple business delivered a "small" profit after weather conditions caused a glut in the market place during the first half and falling supply in the second, which hit selling prices and costs over the year. Meanwhile higher costs meant underlying earnings from bananas declined.

Group revenues rose 9.6% year-on-year to 606.7 million euros (£559 million), reflecting the contribution of recent acquisitions such as Sol Marketing Group, which imports melons into the US, as well as higher selling prices for bananas.

But pre-tax profits dropped to just 128,000 euros (£118,000) from 13.2 million euros (£12.2 million), when exceptional items and Fyffes' 40% share of its property vehicle Blackrock International Land's losses were taken into account.

Fyffes' share amounted to a 28.6 million euros (£26.4 million) loss after Blackrock wrote down the value of its property portfolio.

Although the new year had a slow start, prices improved in recent weeks and the group said its target for the year of underlying profits of 14 to 18 million euro (£12.9 to £16.6 million) remained in place.

Mr McCann said: "In this difficult economic environment, Fyffes' products represent excellent value for money and we believe consumption will remain strong."

The group is the world's oldest fruit brand, having started trading in the 1880s. The first commercial delivery of bananas was made from the Canary Islands to the then E.W Fyffe Son & Co in London.

Source: google.com

Publication date: 3/12/2009

EU environment ministers vote to uphold ban on biotech crops

2009-03-04T22:33:00.000-05:00

European Union governments delivered a blow Monday to the biotechnology industry, allowing Austria and Hungary to maintain national bans on growing genetically modified crops from Monsanto.

The vote, taken by European environment ministers, could irritate the U.S. government, which has in the past complained to the World Trade Organization about obstacles to planting bioengineered crops.

The vote also was a blow to the European Commission, the EU executive arm. The commission has sought in recent years to ease the restrictions in Europe on gene-altered crops, in part to keep down the cost of animal feed.

Member states were "firm" and the "commission should take a close reading of the result," the French environment minister, Jean-Louis Borloo, said after the announcement in Brussels, according to Bloomberg News.

The market for genetically engineered crops is worth several billion dollars worldwide. Only one genetically altered crop is currently grown in Europe: a form of corn, called MON 810, produced by Monsanto and other companies.

In 2003, the United States, Argentina and Canada brought complaints about the EU's biotechnology policies at the WTO, which ruled in 2006 that a de facto ban on imports of genetically modified foods between 1984 and 2004 violated trade rules.

Since that ruling, the commission has required Austria to drop its ban on imports of genetically modified foods. But some other countries have maintained bans on imports and cultivation of such crops, and the United States still could impose punitive duties on the Europeans for continuing to block trade.

"The risk has increased this morning that attention now will be thrown back to the WTO," Willy De Greef, the secretary general of Europabio, a biotechnology industry organization in Brussels, said after the EU announcement.

The U.S. Mission to the European Union had no immediate comment. Officials at offices of the U.S. Trade Representative in Geneva and Washington could not be reached.

"We are looking very carefully at the implications of this decision for the WTO case," said Amadeu Altafaj, a spokesman for the European Commission.

Barbara Helfferich, a spokesperson for EU environment commissioner, Stavros Dimas, said the commission would take some time to formulate its next move.

Groups opposed to biotechnology said the vote was a signal to the commission to stop trying to win permission for the crops until it used more rigorous methods to prove that they are safe.

"The commission must now abandon its unpopular proposals once and for all and get down to the real work of making risk assessments that we can believe in," said Helen Holder, the coordinator for genetically modified organisms at Friends of the Earth Europe.

Source: iht.com

Publication date: 3/4/2009

Europe’s shoppers turn to discount food store

2009-03-03T13:42:00.001-05:00

Not only are the German discounters benefiting from Europe’s economic woes but recent results from other stores show rapid growth in the discount sector. Carrefour revealed that sales at Dia, its discount business in Spain, rose 11.9 per cent to €4.53bn (£3.97bn) last year, while German retailer Rewe unveiled sales at its Czech discount operation Billa, were up a massive Czk18bn (£551m) – a year-on-year increase of almost 40 per cent.

Rewe also has plans to expand Billa into the Ukraine, where it has 10 store openings planned a year, in towns with populations exceeding 1 million. Billa launched in the Ukraine in 2000, but to date its activities in the country have been on a modest scale and it has only 10 stores there at present.

One analyst commented that "Across both mature and emerging markets, discounters continue to enjoy extremely favourable market conditions on the back of clearly adverse economic developments."

Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com

Publication date: 3/3/2009

EU upholds Austria, Hungary right to ban GM crops

2009-03-03T13:41:00.001-05:00

EU environment ministers gave a stinging rebuff to the European Commission on Monday and upheld the sovereign right of Austria and Hungary to ban growing of genetically modified (GM) maize, the EU presidency said.

The Commission, the EU's executive arm, had wanted the ministers to order both countries to lift the bans within 20 days. EU law provides for national GMO bans under certain circumstances if the government can justify the prohibition. It was the third time the Commission had tried to get Austria's bans lifted and the second for Hungary. All the attempts have been rejected by ministers in the past.

Hungary's ban relates to MON 810 maize, developed and marketed by U.S. biotech company Monsanto and the only GM crop that may be commercially grown in the EU. Austria has also banned cultivation of MON 810 maize, as well as that of T25 maize, made by German drugs and chemicals group Bayer .

Source: uk.reuters.com

Publication date: 3/3/2009

EU: Farmers anger at cheap Moroccan imports

2009-03-02T21:30:00.001-05:00

Violent scuffles broke out between demonstrators and police

A thousand or so farmers protested on Saturday in Almería against the agreement between the EU and Morocco to allow cheap Moroccan imports of tomatoes into Spain.

The regions of Murcia, Canaries, Valencia and Andalucía met on Sunday in a summit to discuss the problem which they say makes growing many fruit and vegetables in Spain unviable.

The demonstration in Almería city saw farmers from Málaga, Granada and Murcia, and attracted 5,000 according to the organizers, unions COAG, ASAJA and UPA, but just 1,000 according to the police. Violent scuffles broke out and the National Police charged against the demonstrators on one occasion.

Source: typicallyspanish.com

Publication date: 3/2/2009

Germany: Average per capita consumption of fresh fruit is 83.6kg per year

2009-02-06T11:12:00.001-05:00

Opening Report FRUIT LOGISTICA 2009 - Global fresh produce trade meets in Berlin

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2009, the biggest-ever international produce industry trade event is about to open in Berlin. From 4 to 6 February, 2,288 exhibitors (2008: 2,110) from 80 countries (2008: 68) will be represented at the world's leading international trade fair for fruit and vegetable marketing. Exhibitors will include all of the key global players and companies in the international produce industry value chain.

The number of countries represented in 2009 has increased significantly. Newcomers to the event include exhibitors from Comoros, Croatia, Gambia, Guinea, Lebanon, and Uzbekistan. The largest participations are from the European produce trading nations Italy, Spain, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

With 89% of exhibitors coming from outside of Germany, this year’s FRUIT LOGISTICA ranks the most international trade fair in Germany. A comprehensive market overview of products and services from all levels of the fresh produce trade will be presented on an area covering 88,000 m² of exhibition space (2008: 81,000 m²).

All major industry players will be represented at the three-day trade fair, including key wholesale and retail trade partners, fruit and vegetable growers, and importers and exporters. More than 50,000 trade visitors from 125 countries are expected to attend the trade fair and accompanying conferences.

Chile, this year's FRUIT LOGISTICA partner country and the leading fruit exporter in the southern hemisphere, will be represented by its leading companies and industry representatives. Ilse Aigner, German Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, who is set to open FRUIT LOGISTICA2009 on 3 February at 6.00 pm in Saal 2 of the ICC Berlin, will be joined by Chile's Minister of Agriculture Marigén Hornkohl at the opening ceremony. FRUIT LOGISTICA is being staged in Berlin for the 17th time since 1993.

Parallel to FRUIT LOGISTICA, Messe Berlin will be holding FRESHCONEX 2009 in Hall 2.1, the trade fair focused on the rapidly growing market for fresh-cut convenience products.

The fresh produce market

A good 6% of the 800 million tonnes of vegetables (excluding melons) and over 630 million tonnes of fruit (including melons) produced worldwide are traded in cross-border international fresh produce business. Russia is among the most dynamic importers of the past decade; its imports of fresh produce increased by a quarter to nearly 7 million tonnes between 2005 and 2007. The EU fruit harvest in 2008 was slightly higher than the previous year (up 4%). Yet at just under 36 million tonnes, it was still lower than the average of past years.

The vegetable harvest in the EU in 2008 was comparable to that of the previous year (64 million tonnes). Higher yields offset slight decreases in land area under cultivation. Spain was the leading exporter of fresh vegetables in 2007/08, supplying a record quantity of nearly 3.8 million tonnes. The Netherlands boosted exports by nearly 10% in 2008 as well. The fruit harvested by market growers in Germany during the same period totalled 1.3 million tonnes, which fell a little short of the previous year's high. With a total of 3.5 million tonnes, the market production of vegetables surpassed even last year's record.

German imports of vegetables remained at about the same level in 2008, whereas fruit imports decreased slightly. According to the ZMP (Central Market and Price Reporting Office), some 2,400 fresh produce companies generated sales of EUR 19 billion in Germany in 2007. Following the market slump in 2004, turnover has increased for the third year running, due primarily to higher prices. Turnover has seen only slight growth in 2008.

Average per capita consumption of fruit and vegetables in Germany is 208 kg per year

According to the results of a 2008 GfK consumer survey of fresh produce markets, 29% of the money spent on fresh products goes for fruit, vegetables and potatoes. Along with meat and sausage, these products are among the most important in the fresh product groups (sales volume, excluding dairy products, EUR 37.5 billion in 2008).The GfK (consumer research organisation) conducted a survey of fresh produce purchases and expenditures by German households in 2008, which was commissioned by the ZMP and CMA.

The results indicated that each household purchased 83.6 kg (2007: 86.0 kg) of fresh fruit at an average price of EUR 1.62 per kilo. An additional 63.5 kg (2007: 63.4 kg) of fresh vegetables were bought at an average EUR 1.88 per kilo. Apples were the most frequently purchased fruit: 19.8 kg per household, followed by bananas (16.4 kg), oranges (9.3 kg), table grapes (5.5 kg), clementines and similar products (5.0 kg). For fresh vegetables, households mainly bought tomatoes (10.5 kg), carrots (7.8 kg), cucumbers (7.0 kg), dry onions (6.6 kg) and sweet peppers (4.9 kg). The most recent figures from 2006/2007 show that per capita consumption in Germany averages 208 kilos of fresh and processed fruit (122.5 kg) and vegetables (85.5 kg).

Conferences provide important additional information

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2009 kicks off with the 28th Fresh Produce Forum with a focus on: "Future trade structures - From production to the point of sale" (3 Feb.). At the opening ceremony which follows in the evening, Ilse Aigner, German Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, and Chilean Minister of Agriculture Marigén Hornkohl will officially open the fair. Keynote speaker will be Gert Schambach, member of the executive board of Edeka.

Seven Hall Forums are planned for the following three days of the fair. Topics of the events organised by FRUCHTHANDEL MAGAZINE (Düsseldorf) include: "How is the retail sector positioning itself? – Competition between systems" (4 Feb.), "Chile - Partner with a tradition and a future" (4 Feb.), "Poland - The next big player?" (5 Feb.), "Strategic alternatives for the supermarket fresh produce department" (5 Feb.), "CO2 and energy costs – The international produce trade feels the pinch" (5 Feb.), "The consumer, an unknown entity" (6 Feb.), "Innovations for the fresh produce business – The perfect new product" (6 Feb.). Events at the Fresh Produce Forum and the seven Hall Forums will be simultaneously interpreted in German, English, French, Italian and Spanish.

During the trade fair, visitors will have a chance to visit the following company and product presentations in the exhibitor forum "Kleiner Stern" (Sydney Room): "Molecular testing for optimal control of ripening, maturation and storage quality" (5 Feb.), "Strawberry health facts" (5 Feb.), "Bayer CropScience food chain partnership: The Brazilian flavour guarantee programme" (5 Feb.), "Sustainability, agriculture and the consumer: implications for trade and industry" (5 Feb.).

Outstanding achievements in all sectors of the fresh produce trade will be honoured by the presentation of industry awards including the "Grüner Merkur" (3 Feb.) and the FRUIT LOGISTICA INNOVATION AWARD 2009 "FLIA" (6 Feb.).

Visitor information

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2008 Berlin and FRESHCONEX 2009 are open daily on 4-6 February from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. Online tickets are available at a special price of EUR 22.00 for a one-day ticket and EUR 53.00 for an event pass. One-day tickets cost EUR 25.00 at the gate. An event pass costs EUR 60.00 at the gate. An event pass with access to the Fresh Produce Forum costs EUR 85.00. All tickets include a catalogue along with admission to the Hall Forum events and to FRESHCONEX.

Fruit Logistica - February 2009

Peru consolidates EU supply position

2009-02-03T11:08:00.000-05:00

Fruitnet.com 02 February 2009

The European Union remains the primary destination for Peruvian agricultural exports following a 25 per cent rise in total shipments during 2008

Peruvian agricultural exports to the European Union (EU) rose by 25 per cent in value during 2008, recording the 10th consecutive year of growth and consolidating the mainland as Peru’s biggest market, according to a report by AgroNegocios Peru.

Figures from Peru’s Ministry of Agriculture (Minag) indicate Peru’s exports jumped 25 per cent to US$2.7bn last year, up from US$2.1bn in 2007.

The EU’s agricultural imports from Peru, grew to over US$1.1bn, accounting for 42 per cent of the South American country’s total exports.

Germany, Spain and the Netherlands alone absorbed 62 per cent of the volume, while the US remained the second-largest market for Peruvian agricultural items, representing imports worth some US$780m or 29 per cent of Peru’s total agricultural exports.

Other markets include the Andean Community (CAN), Mexico, Haiti, Venezuela and Chile which combined account for approximately one-third of total exports.

Peru’s major agricultural export products in 2008 included fresh oranges and table grapes, canned olives, coffee, avocados, bananas, asparagus, artichokes and paprika, among other items.

Tesco calls for lower supplier prices

2009-01-31T12:39:00.000-05:00

Fruitnet.com 31 January 2009

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy claims suppliers must pass savings made from lower commodity prices on to consumers

Tesco has called on its suppliers to pass savings made from falling commodity prices on to consumers, claiming that it is critically important that savings translate into lower retail prices to ease financial pressures on shoppers.

In a keynote address at the prestigious City Food Lecture in London this week, Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy (pictured) told an invited food industry audience that rising demand for discount goods underlined the need for lower prices for consumers.

“Commodity prices are down by over 50 per cent from their peak, while the price of oil is down by over US$100 – these lower prices need to be passed into the supply chain and fed on to consumers who are under growing financial pressure,” he said.

Sir Terry said that Tesco wanted to ensure that all its suppliers understood this and was “going to great lengths to speak to them about the pressures consumers are under”.

The Tesco chief executive argued that although the adjustment “would be difficult for some”, it was “critical if consumers are to be given what they need”.

As evidence of the demand for lower prices, Sir Terry claimed that the retailer was now Britain’s biggest discounter and said sales of Tesco’s discount and value ranges had increased by 65 per cent compared with a year ago.

He also delivered a robust defence of free market economics, claiming that agricultural subsidies were “too high”, reducing the efficiency of agriculture production and keeping food prices in protected markets “artificially high”.

But environmental concerns were also tackled in the speech and the Tesco chief claimed that government backing for biofuels had backfired, causing forests to be cleared and leaving “less land was available for other crops”.

Europe suspends plan to censor Kenyan produce

2009-01-30T15:45:00.001-05:00

A campaign that has been urging European consumers to shun Kenyan fruits, vegetables and flowers, because of the carbon footprint caused by air freighting, has been suspended.

The Soil Association (SA) — the accreditation body in the United Kingdom that is the widely recognised quality mark on sought-after organic produce — has suspended earlier intentions to single out air freighted Kenyan organic produce as bad for the environment.

The ‘food miles’ campaign has been encouraging consumers to buy goods that have travelled the shortest distance from farms to tables, and to discriminate against long-haul transportation, especially air-freighted goods.

Air freight is used to move fresh fruit and vegetables around the globe that are too perishable to be transported by sea. Fronted by human rights and environmental lobbyists, the European food miles campaign claimed that buying locally produced vegetables, fruits and flowers is better for the environment because it reduces carbon emissions associated with transporting the goods.

Proponents of this trade concept argued that to discourage threats of environmental degradation, all produce brought in through long haulage should be accorded cautionary labels such that buyers ‘skipped them’ for locally produced ones.

Ken Hayes, and SA official, said the UK department will withdraw its organic certificates from air-freighted organically grown produce that would effectively deny vital markets to products from Africa.

“Following a lengthy consultation on air freighted organic goods, SA has decided to monitor the amount of air freighted organic goods and work with partners in East Africa to promote the positive contribution organic farming makes to food security and people’s livelihoods,” he said in the report.

Following the verdict, the Kenyan High Commission in London said it will prevail on leading supermarkets bearing the aeroplane stickers on the country’s fresh produce to remove them.

“The SA has ruled that they will not consider air freight to certify organic produce. The issue of CO2 emissions will be separated from organic production,” a top mission official told the Business Daily.

Kenya Flower Council — the umbrella body for the country’s biggest producers welcomed the milestone achievement.

“We can now be considered at par with our European farming community. We hope to maintain and grow our market share. We look up to a very successful 2009,” said Jane Ngige, the KFC chief executive.

The SA verdict means that when addressing air freight, organic agriculture’s potential to alleviate poverty and enhance the local environment in developing countries will be a key consideration.

It argues that air freight makes it possible for producers in developing countries to sell high value goods in the UK, bringing them social and economic gains. It notes that growing organic food in developing countries significantly improves the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities.

“The SA were here and we took them around the farms. Definitely, this is good news for us. Last year was a tough year for exporters,” said Hasit Shah, the chairman for the Fresh Producers and Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK).

“We now have a closer working relationship with the Kenyan Organic Agriculture Network and other organisations in East Africa and believe there is great potential in implementing a joint project looking at the positive contribution organic agriculture can make to development,” said the SA report released last week and seen by the Business Daily.

The announcement coincides with recent decisions in the key European market to promote eating of fruits and vegetables as a way of healthy eating, meaning more opportunities for the market which buys 95 per cent of its fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers from the Kenyan market.

The UK government is presently encouraging more efficient distribution within the food and drink sector, and has proposed that food industry trade bodies look into achieving a 20 per cent reduction in the social costs of transporting food in the UK by 2012.

“It will be worthwhile to network and engage the industry which is already looking to increased demand in future. The school dinner programme which includes slogans such as “five a day” is a sure sign of upward demand in such products.

Kenya should position itself to reaping more of this new demand,” added the embassy official but who is familiar with the happenings but did not wish to be named.

In 2005, the UK imported 20,700 tonnes of cut flowers from Africa with a declared value of around £56m. Kenyan cut flowers accounted for around £52m (about Sh52 billion).

Major exports include roses (60 per cent) 40 per cent field or summer flowers. At an annual growth rate of 20 per cent, horticulture generated Sh49 billion in the 2008 to emerge as the country’s top foreign exchange earner. In 2007, the industry realized Sh43 billion.

Cut flowers

The cut flowers world market is worth $5.7 billion market. Dominated by Netherlands which accounts for about 54 per cent of all exports. Other top exporters are Colombia (16 per cent), Ecuador and Kenya, six per cent each.

The main import destinations are the 27 EU member countries, with Germany (18 per cent) as the largest country destination.

It is followed by UK: 17 per cent and the USA, 16 per cent. Until the food miles threats surfaced, Kenya has remained the number one exporter of cut flowers into the main in the EU and currently commands 36 per cent of market share.

Over the last four years growing from Sh8.5 billion in 2000 to Sh32 billion in 2006. The major current production is based on about 2,500 ha, 70 per cent of which is grown in Naivasha.

Other areas are Thika, Mt Kenya, Athi Plains, North Rift Valley and Kericho. The SA report confirms recent studies by UK’s Cranfield University on Kenya’s level of CO2 emissions. The studies say carbon emissions are 200 kg per head, while in the UK they are almost 50 times that.

Previously, UK scientists have proved to carbon miles crusaders that the subject had not been scientifically focused. Growers, trade associations and scientists conducted studies whose findings discounted the retailers’ theory that banning imports would reduce global warming.

Apart from SA, growers, trade associations and scientists conducted parallel studies whose findings discounted the retailers’ theory that banning imports would reduce global warming.

All past studies have confirmed that air freighting vegetables from Africa is a small contributor to Britain’s carbon emissions.

Kenya’s contribution is too low to be significant. In their findings, they noted that although less than 1 per cent of imported food is air freighted, it contributes 11 per cent of the carbon emissions from UK food distribution by roads.

While aircraft emissions produce far more greenhouse gases per ‘food mile’ than any other form of transport, food transport has an environmental and social cost, most of this - about 85 per cent- comes from UK roads.

“The distance food has travelled is not a good way to judge whether the food we eat is sustainable. Driving 6.5 miles to buy your shopping emits more carbon than flying a pack of Kenyan green beans to the UK”.

Analysts say the food miles debate was defeated because Africa is yet to reach high pollution levels of the developed world.

The carbon miles debate is now fizzling out by the fact that its proponents would not scientifically justify their claims against the long haul products.

Since March 2007, Tesco and Marks & Spencer –two of the UK’s leading supermarkets have put plane symbols on Kenya’s fresh produce.

The supermarkets had rushed to impose sanctions on air-freighted goods without proper scientific findings.

Their move prompted urgent research into how much CO2 was released into the atmosphere by airlifting of goods from Africa.

With a growing concern that CO2 emitted when transporting food over long distances contributes significantly to global warming, Kenyan based flower fresh producers assisted by the government waged a counter campaign that the food miles debate was not about reducing carbon emissions, but maintaining protection for European producers.

High quality fresh produce is grown under the sun on farms and small holdings all over Kenya.

Source: bdafrica.com

Publication date: 1/30/2009

UK: Environment secretary on food labelling

2009-01-15T13:39:00.001-05:00

UK’s Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that supermarkets and companies needed to label products more clearly to show consumers exactly where their food was coming from. Under current European regulations, a product's country of origin was the place where it had undergone its last significant process, but this could hide where it had really come from. Mr Benn suggested a voluntary labelling scheme for retailers and caterers that would show the country of origin. The Food and Drink Federation, however, said it would be an expensive move to label products like pizza or pies that had a number of ingredients. Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Mr Benn said consumers could help boost the agricultural industry by eating healthier, locally produced food that was also more environmentally friendly because of less transport.

Robin Maynard, Soil Association Campaigns Director, commented that Hilary Benn should know there was already a label that delivered what he was calling for: the Soil Association's organic symbol, which offered a 'one-stop shop' for consumers wanting food free from bad ingredients, providing high animal welfare and care for the environment. Given organic farming used 26% less energy to produce the same amount of food as non-organic agriculture, organic farmers would be top contenders for Mr Benn's 'low-carbon farming award'. Robin Maynard continued that it was time the Secretary of State and Defra finally acknowledged that there was a burgeoning body of British farmers doing exactly what he and the public said they want, producing sustainable, climate-friendly food that was what our long-term food security depended on above all.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

14.01.2009

Exotic fruit sales plunge in Italy

2009-01-05T13:15:00.001-05:00

CIA reports 25 per cent year-on-year fall in sales of pineapples, bananas, avocados and mangoes during festive period

The amount of exotic fruit consumed in Italy over the festive period fell dramatically compared with the same period of 2007, according to Italian farming organisation CIA.

In a statement, the group reported a year-on-year downturn of more than 25 per cent in sales of fruits such as pineapples, avocados, bananas and mangoes eaten in the country over Christmas and New Year.

Overall sales of fresh fruit and vegetables fell by 1.5 per cent compared with the year before, according to CIA. However, sales of dried fruit and nuts rose by 2.5 per cent, while vegetable sales grew by 3.5 per cent on the back of increased demand for lentils and beans.

Before Christmas, Italy's Minister of Agriculture Luca Zaia called on consumers to boycott pineapples and other imported food items over the holiday period in favour of traditional domestic products.

The calls were met with dismay from the trade, however, with industry body Fruit Imprese labelling the minister's comments "misguided".

According to CIA, the majority of Italy's 23m families did their shopping in retail stores (56 per cent), followed by traditional stores (24 per cent), local markets (18 per cent) and the internet (2 per cent)

www.fruitnet.com 5 January 2009

Ivorian Cocoa Prices Rise Further on Supply Fears

2008-12-18T08:49:00.001-05:00

Abidjan, Dec 18 - Cocoa farmgate prices in most of Ivory Coast's growing regions kept their upward momentum last week as rates rose at ports and buyers anticipated a shortage of supply in the New Year, farmers and exporters said on Wednesday.

Figures from the Coffee and Cocoa Bourse (BCC) showed average prices well above 600 CFA francs ($1.23) per kg in most regions and more than 700 francs in one area. One buyer said prices at San Pedro port exceeded the 745 CFA franc official estimate.

Cocoa arrivals at ports in the world's top grower have improved in recent weeks and reached 356,000 tonnes from Oct. 1 to Dec. 14, exporters estimated on Monday. However, the accumulated total was still sharply down from 650,429 tonnes in the same period of the previous season.

Fears of a shortage of cocoa from Ivory Coast helped propel London cocoa futures to a 22-year high on Wednesday.

The May contract rose 52 pounds, or more than 3 percent, to a peak of 1,751 pounds a tonne.

"Exporters bought cocoa at very high prices at Abidjan port to ensure they secured maximum volumes," said the purchasing manager of a European exporter based in the main city Abidjan.

"We hit 800 francs per kg at the port because they (the exporters) think the campaign will be short and there will be a deficit in volumes in January."

Ivory Coast had a troubled start to the season after many farmers went on strike complaining buyers were not paying the non-binding guideline price of 700 CFA francs set by sector administrators when the new season was launched in October.

But farmgate prices have steadily risen as concerns mounted over the 2008/09 harvest, which has been hit by poor weather and disease. Administrators have slashed the crop forecast to 1 million tonnes, down from around 1.3 million last year.

BCC figures from the centre-western region of Daloa, which produces one-quarter of the national output, showed a 5 CFA franc price rise to 625 per kg. But farmers said competetition was driving prices higher.

"In the bush, farmers received, on average, 650 francs per kg and in town the exporters bought beans at 700 francs per kg because there are not many beans," said farmer Attoungbre Kouame, whose farm is on the outskirts of Daloa.

In Ivory Coast's western region of Soubre, the average price jumped by 20 francs to 650 CFA francs, as exporters, particularly grinders, still competed for beans.

"Farmgate prices have risen a lot. A lot of farmers sold for 675 francs per kg because the grinders are hunting for beans," said farmer Roger Tano whose farm is near Soubre.

The rise in world cocoa prices over the last few weeks was initially driven by concerns over crop prospects in Ivory Coast, but dealers said the recent spike was more due to fund and investor buying and the falling pound.

Below are average farmgate prices in CFA francs per kg for Dec. 8-14, as quoted by private buyers, cooperatives and shippers, and published by the (BCC).

Included are prices paid on delivery at San Pedro and Abidjan ports.

                      Dec 8-14          Dec 1-7

 Abengourou              655              n/a

 Aboisso                 585              575

 Adzope                  680              n/a

 Agboville               700              650

 Bongouanou              625              615

 Daloa                   625              620

 Divo                    690              665

 Gagnoa                  630              n/a

 San Pedro               625              585

 Sassandra               n/a              n/a

 Soubre                  650              630

 --------------------------------------------

 Abidjan (port)          n/a              n/a

 San Pedro (port)        745              705

($1=488.0 CFA Franc)

Reuters

Global Crisis Hits Nigerian Cocoa Grinding

2008-12-16T12:11:00.002-05:00

Source: Reuters
16/12/2008

Lagos, Dec 16 - The global financial crisis has slashed cocoa grinding in Nigeria, and there have barely been any exports to Europe in the last two months, the Cocoa Processors' Association of Nigeria secretary general said.
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"The global crisis has crippled business, almost everything is at a standstill," COPAN Secretary General Felix Oladunjoye told Reuters in an interview.

About 95 percent of cocoa output from Nigeria, the world's fourth-largest grower, is shipped to chocolate makers in Europe.

Nigeria has the capacity to process about 100,000 tonnes of cocoa per year, grinding roughly 25 percent of national output.

Most of Nigeria's eight functional plants were operating at around 60 percent of capacity due to poor infrastructure, high costs and multiple taxes, but analysts say the economic meltdown has further cut the grinders' capacity to less than 20 percent.

"Most cocoa processors are not producing, the few that are processing are doing so epileptically because there is no demand for processed products in Europe," Oladunjoye said.

The few shipments from Nigeria of cocoa products -- butter, cake, liquor and powder -- were for contracts signed before the crisis but which were delayed for various reasons.

"There have been no new contracts since October. Importers are not importing because they can't get credit from their banks and factories are closing down, nobody can say he is covered," Oladunjoye said.

The government launched an ambitious cocoa revival campaign in 2005 to increase production, local processing and domestic consumption of cocoa products, but incentives from the government are often delayed.

Oladunjoye said there had been no significant increase in domestic consumption in the last three years to make up for the lull in exports since October.

"There is really nothing we here can do about the global crisis but wait until the various bailout programmes initiated by Western countries begin to manifest," Oladunjoye said.

Market share of ready to eat mango is increasing steadily

2008-11-03T16:05:00.002-05:00

Note from David: although the packaging is relatively unattractive, consumers might somehow be attracted by that weird mango tool...

Market trends show an evolution from coloured mango with poor taste (eg. Tommy) towards less coloured mango with good taste (eg. Kent). At the same time the market share of the ready to eat (RTE) mangos is increasing steadily, according to Special Fruit.

Special Fruit has a complete mango line and specializes in fibreless mangos and offers a full range of RTE Mangoes all year round in various packaging presentations.

The RTE mangos are:

Individually checked through our scanner (F5 -NIR Technology) to ID different ripeness stage.
Ripened & checked at our premises
Available in several packaging presentations, black boxes, EPS, etc
Available year-round

Special Fruit has a complete line:
1.     By Boat in 4kg box, Kent, Keitt, TA varieties and others
2.     By Air, in 6kg box, Varieties: Kent, Keitt, Nam Dok Mai, Palmer and others
3.     RTE (Kent and Keith)
- 20s
- 15s
- 10s
-   9s
- 2 piece flowpacks
- 2/3 piece gift / promo packs

RTE is the most diversified line in terms of packaging (see sample pictures)

For more information:
Cesar Castrat
Special Fruit
Wenenstraaat 6
B-2321 Meer
Tel.: +32 3 315 07 73
Fax: +32 3 315 08 43
www.specialfruit.be

Shake-up in banana import ranking

2008-10-10T09:18:00.001-04:00

Here's an update on banana imports from Fruitnet.com:

Russia and the European Union have overtaken the US to become the largest banana importers during the first six months of 2008

The US has fallen from second to fourth place in the global banana import ranking after Russia and the EU sourced larger volumes of the fruit from January to June 2008, according to the Ecuadorean Banana Exporters’ Association (AEBE).

Russia accounted for 23.82 per cent (or 32.6m boxes) of the 136.9m boxes of bananas exported during the first six months of the year, followed in second place by the Mediterranean region (including Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey), with Belgium, Germany and Poland combined sharing the third spot.

The US imported 18.97 per cent of global volumes, or 25.9m boxes, during the same period, pushing the country down to fourth place in the ranking.

Meanwhile, Eduardo Ledesma, director of AEBE, added that Ecuador is losing market share in both the US and Europe.

“The US market is increasingly sourcing fewer volumes of bananas from Ecuador in favour of fruit from more aggressive suppliers such as Costa Rica and Guatemala,” he explained.

Ecuador has also shipped 8 per cent fewer volumes to the EU so far this year in comparison to the year-earlier period.

The South American country is currently lobbying the EU to reduce the €176-per tonne import tariff imposed on Latin American bananas, which Ecuador claims is negatively affecting exports to the region.

EU 15 Rice Imports 1995-2008

2008-08-04T01:16:00.005-04:00

In 1995, shipments of rice arriving to the 15 member state countries of the European Union represented 600,000 metric tons; 12 years later, imports reached nearly 1,400,000 MT.

The following table shows that between 2003 and 2007, imports have increased by 6% annually, from 1,08 to 1,37 million tons. A sharp increase took place between 2006 and 2007, due to higher volumes supplied by Thailand, India and Uruguay. However the first four months of 2008 are showing a somehow different picture: Thai shipments have slowed down, while rice from the US have recovered its lost ground in 2007.

In 2007, Thailand supplied 31% of all rice imported by the EU, while India's share stood at 26%. Important gains by Uruguay have put this origin in front of Pakistan and Guyana, and controlled 10% of all shipments in 2007.

EU-15 Tomato Imports

2008-07-16T15:59:00.012-04:00

The demand for non-European tomatoes has dramatically increased in 2007, growing from 250,000 to more than 330,000 metric tonnes in one year only.

In 2007, close to 90% of all imported tomatoes were supplied by Morocco, followed by Israel (7%) and Senegal (2%).
Tomato imports are counter-seasonal, meaning that shipments from abroad enter the EU market when the European production is non-existent. During the last 36 months, we can observe that imports usually take place between October and May, and that the peak period is in January/February.
In 2007, more than 80% of all tomato imports entered the EU-15 territories through France, while 8% of shipments passed through Spain.

EU Imports of Kiwis

2008-07-14T20:28:00.001-04:00

Between 1998 and 2007, the yearly amounts of imported kiwis have grown from 170,000 to more than 250,000 metric tonnes.

In 2007, 64% of all kiwi shipments in the EU 15 countries were originating from New Zealand, while the balance came from Chile (35%).

In 2007, the season for imported kiwis started in early May and finished in November, the remaining of the year being supplied by European producers (Italy). Imports from New Zealand spread from May until November, while Chilean products were mainly present between May and August. During May and June, shipments reached more than 50,000 tonnes per month.

Picture of the week: Armenia Fresh Market

2008-07-11T16:50:00.001-04:00

"You take VISA?"

EU Imports of Coffee Beans

2008-07-11T16:05:00.000-04:00

Between 1998 and 2007, the EU 15 countries (AT, BE, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, NL, PT, SE) have imported on average 2,4 million metric tonnes of coffee beans per year, with an average annual CIF value of € 3,6 billion. Note the sharp decrease in coffee value between 2001 and 2004.
As regards to market share, the top suppliers for 2007 were Brazil (30% of total shipments) and Vietnam (22%), when taken together, accounted for more than 1,3 million tonnes of coffee beans.
The above seasonality graphic illustrates monthly arrivals of coffee beans into the EU. Notive Brazilian shipments well above 50,000 metric tonnes per month, and how variations impact on prices (on the graphic below). Between January 2006 and March 2008, total EU imports have averaged 210,000 t per month.
For the same period as on the previous graph, we can notice an important appreciation of coffee prices in Europe. However, the sharpest increase is observed for the Robusta variety, where prices have grown from an average of US$ 60 cents per pound in the first half of 2006, to a record of US$ 1.20 this year.