OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Guayaquil, Ecuador
July 24, 2007
During last year El Niño was announced to be a threat this year. Finally there was a "mild El Niño" and not as bad as some years ago. The extended rains took its toll specially the last 3 months, limiting usable fruit for industry.
The harvest for the first six months of this year reached 102,000 tons, and for the second half is estimated to be between 120,000 and 130,000 tons, which is more or less consistent with the crop pattern we have seen during the last months. Total harvest for the whole year is expected to be 220,000-230,000 tons of fruit, an increase of 15% compared to 2006.
The demand of passion fruit juice and concentrate remains strong, and in some markets there is even an increase in demand.
It's worth mentioning that despite crop figures, low brix and low juice yield has contributed to as much as 20% less overall yield in juice production, affecting overall "net" volumes of concentrate being shipped during this first half.
These variables are keeping both quantities of product somewhat limited, and prices firm.
Sincerely,
EPPA,
The Ecuadorian Passion Fruit Processor's Association
Disclaimer: EPPA, The Ecuadorian Passion Fruit Processor's Association,
is an informal, non-profit association that solely relies on its current members
who willingly and voluntarily agree to supply the information to make this report.
If any information can not be supplied by one of the active producing factories,
we will use the data figures obtained by the exports statistics supplied by either
the Central bank of Ecuador or the Empresa de Manifiestos and convert that into raw
fruit data. EPPA, nor any of its members, writers, friends or anyone involved directly
or indirectly with EPPA can guarantee or verify the authenticity of this information,
and they are therefore not liable or held responsible of any claim arising from of its
past, current or future use or misuse by anyone. We reserve the right to make any changes
of this report at any time.
For more information please contact us by tel +593-9-870 8331
