China expects to produce 50 per cent more garlic this 2011/12 season compared to last year, with exports due to start in early June, according to Chinese grower-shipper Huaguang Group.
The Jinxiang, Shandong, based firm today told Fruitnet.com that harvesting is now underway and that quality and weight is very good, thanks to favourable growing conditions.
The anticipated bumper volumes should help stablise the Chinese garlic export market, which saw prices rise to unprecedented levels last year.
Export volumes in January-October 2010 fell 13.7 per cent to 1.3m tonnes compared to the prior year, which contributed to a dramatic increase in prices, the group said.
The value of garlic exports during that period rose 136 per cent above 2009 levels. And prices per tonne averaged at US$1,658, up 174 per cent compared to the prior year.
Indonesia, the US and Brazil were three of the top markets for whole Chinese garlic last year, Huaguang Group said.
Chinese garlic shipments to Asia, the product’s main export market, fell 18.5 per cent in 2010 to 791,822 tonnes. Exports to South America, its second market, also slipped 18.5 per cent to 173,391 tonnes. Volumes to Europe similarly dropped 18.5 per cent to 131,525 tonnes.
Founded in 1991, Huaguang Group farms over 20,000 acres of garlic, and exports around 30 different fruits and vegetables to more than 38 countries.
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