Statistic of Hungarian Agriculture Chamber about walnut export appeared in the news and shed light on the continuation of drastic fall of walnut export in 2021.
Before 2020, the Hungarian walnut inshell annual average export to the EU was usually around 1500-2500 mt. Contrary in 2020-2021. The export was under 500 Mt, and the decrease is 65-79 %.
Walnut kernel annual average export before 2021 was usually around 2000 mt and in 2021 around 500 mt. The decrease is appr. 75 %.
The reasons for the fall in export are mixed. First of all, a one and a half month early harvest advantage of the Hungarian walnut might be mentioned compared to the other walnut growing regions (Ukraine, Romania, Moldova). The Hungarian fresh walnut inshell could have come to the EU markets in the middle or end of September. This so-called 1,5-month window advantage has disappeared in the past years.
On the one hand, the quality of the Hungarian walnut has suffered because of climate change (long, scorching Summers without rains) and phytosanitary and insect pest problems (walnut husk fly), which damages size and colour. The hectare yield of the plantations has decreased significantly, which is serious trouble regarding the profitability of the production mainly compared to the enormous volume of processing countries.
On the other, the main reason for the Hungarian position loss on the export market is the significant production capacity increase in the USA, China and Chile. These processing countries have put enormous pressure on their export on the EU market with which the Hungarian walnut can not compete. The Chilean walnut can appear on the EU market already in May or June, and the EU customers like the South American alternative.
So the Hungarian walnut is currently instead targeted to the domestic market. Beyond that, the Ukrainian walnut kernel import to Hungary has increased by 50% from appr. 600 mt to around 1200 mt per year.
HUNGARIAN DOMESTIC MARKET WALNUT KERNEL PRICES
Light 80% halves 8,90 EUR FCA
Light 30% halves 7,90 EUR FCA
LQP 7,05 EUR FCA
UKRAINIAN WALNUT KERNEL EXPORT PRICES
Extra Light 80% halves 6,20 EUR DAP
Light 80% halves 5,70 EUR DAP
Amber 80% halves 4,45 EUR DAP
Extra light mix 30% 5.80 EUR DAP
Light mix 30% 5.30 EUR DAP
Amber mix 30% 4.30 EUR DAP
Quarters extra light 5,20 EUR DAP
Quarters light 5,00 EUR DAP
Quarters amber 3,90 EUR DAP
Broken 2-5mm 3,80 EUR DAP
Broken 5-8mm 4,20 EUR DAP
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