European market, July/August 2008 : Indicators, avocado, banana, orange, grapefruit, litchi, mango, pineapple, sea freight

Litchi: The European litchi market was fairly limited in July and August. The Thai export season gradually came to an end, leaving the market open to Israeli produce. Most Thai litchis were marketed in the Netherlands, while Israeli fruits were shipped more widely to the various European markets right from the beginning of the season. The prices for produce from both sources remained fairly stable throughout the summer, with limited demand. The small deliveries matched supply requirements. Mango: Demand for mango is limited in July and August. The season's fruits and the holidays strongly affected consumption of tropical fruits. The small demand was matched by fairly moderate supplies, helping to keep prices at a medium level . A number of sources that are generally strongly present at this time of year seemed to have reduced their shipments, thus responding to natural market demand without generating any marked over-supply. Pineapple: In July and August, demand was focused-as usual-on the season's fruits that were available at low prices. However, the decrease in volumes of 'Sweet' that began at the end of June continued throughout the summer. Its effects on prices were not felt until the end of July. The situation on the air pineapple market changed little throughout the summer. Supply and demand were very irregular but prices remained fairly stable nonetheless. At the end of August, Cameroon started levying a new airport tax, making the marketing of fruits from this source a little more difficult. It was difficult for sales of Victoria pineapple to pick up again as the season's fruits were available at very low prices. Sea freight: The hopes, perhaps expectations, which operators harboured at the end of June, that the charter market would remain strong over the summer months were brutally dashed at the start of July with a dramatic downturn in Spot activity. After a steady but diminishing stream of fixtures, a sudden accumulation of vessels at the Canal coincided with a not unexpected loss of interest in chartering from the banana traders. (Résumé d'auteur)