The Mintec Benchmark Prices of Turkish sultanas (type 9, CIF EU) were steady during the week of 11th May and down 2% month-on-month at USD 1,513/MT. The benchmark has softened by 12% year-on-year, weighed down by the weakening lira.
Turkey has exported 179,149 tonnes of dried grapes since the start of the 2021/22 campaign in September 2021, an increase of 16,310 tonnes (+10%) compared to the same period in the previous campaign, according to data published by The Aegean Exporters’ Association. Exports in the second week of May accelerated to 4,843 tonnes, up 51% year-on-year and up 3,049 tonnes compared to the previous week, as trading was slow in the first week of May due to Eid celebrations.
In other news, the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) recently lifted the ban on imports of grapes and other fruits and vegetables from Turkey. Russia previously introduced import bans on some Turkish agri-products after Turkey shot down Russian war plane near Syrian border in 2015. It then imposed more bans in 2021 after Turkey supplied Ukraine with combat drones. The export ban removal on fresh grapes could potentially shift some production quantities in Turkey from dried grapes to fresh grapes.
