New Year, it's stable trading, prices rise slightly

According to CTV's VINACAS in China, the Chinese market after the Lunar New Year, lower inventories, especially at Dien Bach and Guangzhou. So Chinese visitors began asking to buy more to serve the needs of New Year market, transaction prices stable.

European markets, North America has a number of spot transactions, mainly WW240 and WW320 to commodities. Some remote communication needs to buy from April to June / 2016 Catalog little hotel deals pools. Slightly higher asking price and offer price differences in some code depending on brand goods factories. Refer cashew prices offered for the North American market, Europe today: (Unit: USD / lb FOB Tp. HCM): W240: 3.7 to 3.8; W320: 3.5-3.6; W450 / SW / LBW320: 3.3 to 3.4; DW: 3.2 to 3.25; WS / WB: 3.15 to 3.25; LP: 3.0 to 3.1.

*** According to CTV VINACAS in Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh and Cambodia's 2016 season that Vietnam and Cambodia late this year than in previous years, within 15-20 business days can ro .

Vietnam Similarly, as noted by CTV VINACAS in Africa, the crop in West Africa also arrived late, the beginning of the transaction price is high, but this year both sellers and buyers are cautious because of the price current> 1400 USD / Mt. C & F City. HCM for crude Ivorian origin OT 48 Lbs / 80kgs, a very high degree of risk.

Source: VINACAS

Low walnut prices for California's farmers Fri Feb 19, 2016 California walnut farmers say they knew the great prices of 2014 couldn't last. In that year the prices paid for Valley walnut growers' harvests topped $2 a pound for higher-quality nuts. Walnut growers haven’t been told how much they’ll get for the nuts they sold last year, but some experts estimate that top prices may be no higher than 75 to 80 cents per pound. Those declining prices are the result of a “perfect storm” of events coming together last year, including China becoming a bigger player in the nut-growing industry and U.S. growers becoming victims of their own success, said Sam Sciacca, a longtime walnut grower and owner of Moody Walnut Dryer. For years, walnuts have been one of the more stable and valuable agricultural commodities in the Central Valley — where about 90 percent of U.S. walnuts are grown. As a result, over the past decade, farmers have planted more trees to expand their acreage, while others replaced other crops with walnuts in hopes of better returns. Many trees reached maturity in the last year or two, elevating the supply of commercial walnuts in the state to the point that prices are dropping, Sciacca said. In addition, China, normally a major buyer of U.S. walnuts, is expanding its own walnut industry and competing with growers here. A strengthening U.S. dollar compared to the Euro, is also hurting prices. Yet, Sciacca said losses in walnut sales to China are being partially offset with increased sales to India. He has also heard that the lower nut prices are helping improve sales momentum for other overseas markets. As for what this means for next year, isn’t clear: 2015 was a “bumper” year for walnut growers, with heavier-than-average production per tree that generated a record 575,000 tons of nuts, according to industry estimates. The industry was left with about 60,000 tons of unsold walnuts from last year — 20,000 tons more than average — which will have to be sold this year with the new nuts, Sciacca said. A “bumper” harvest tends to be followed by less productive years, which should help reduce the glut of walnuts on the market and help elevate prices. Source: visaliatimesdelta.com

Business Events go nuts over conference win

AU: Sunshine Coast Business Events go nuts over conference win Thu Feb 18, 2016 Business Events Sunshine Coast (BESC) has  scored its first major win for 2016 with confirmation of a conference worth up to $700,000 for the Sunshine Coast region. The 2016 Australian Macadamia Industry Conference will be held at the Events Centre in Caloundra from 17 to 21 October, 2016. The conference will attract 350 delegates from around Australia and the world. BESC Manager, Tiffany Bower said: “Our team needs to be innovative as we go head-to-head with cashed-up cities around Australia and the world to win conference business. Securing this piece of business kicks off the year in a positive direction and in addition, recognises an important part of the Sunshine Coast food and agricultural sector – the macadamia nut,” Ms Bower said. Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Macadamia Society, Jolyon Burnett said Australia leads the world in the production of macadamia kernel and events like this are crucial in helping Australian growers to stay at the forefront of the global macadamia industry and keep up with growing global demand. “In 2015, Australia’s macadamia growers increased their production by 10% to 48,300 tonnes and we predict another strong crop this year,” said Mr. Burnett. “The mood in the burgeoning industry is one of optimism, investment levels are strong and we anticipate a strong attendance at this year’s conference, including an international contingent from countries like South Africa, China and Vietnam, who are keen to learn from the world’s best.  “The Sunshine Coast is one of Australia’s key macadamia growing regions, Mount Bauple has been widely acknowledged as the ancestral home of the macadamia nut, and our world-leading breeding program is housed at Nambour's Maroochy Research Facility, so it is only fitting that we hold our 2016 conference in a destination that provides an inspiring and relevant environment for our participants. We’re very excited to be working with the Business Events Sunshine Coast team and look forward to bringing the conference to Queensland in 2016,” added Mr Burnett.  Sunshine Coast Council CEO Michael Whittaker said: “The macadamia industry is an important part of the Sunshine Coast’s burgeoning agribusiness sector which has been identified in our Regional Economic Development Strategy as one of seven high value industries that offer the greatest potential to succeed as our regional economy grows. “I’m sure our local producers will appreciate having this conference in their own backyard as they look to enhance their businesses.” Supported by Business Events Sunshine Coast, the Australian Smart Communities Summit will be held 2-4 March 2016 and the Australian Macadamia Industry Conference will be held 17-21 October. Both business events will be held at the Events Centre in Caloundra. Source: http://www.freshplaza.com

Vietnam, W Africa beat India, turn top cashew suppliers

    

India is no longer the top supplier of cashew kernels to the world market and that position has been taken over by Vietnam for kernels and West Africa for Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN).

On the demand side, the US and EU continue to be the major buyers but they have been overtaken by Asia, which has, of late, become the largest consuming region with India taking the lead in consumption.

Meanwhile, the world cashew kernel market has been maintaining a steady trend and that is likely to continue as there is not much chance of any big price movement unless something dramatic happens on the supply side.

This stability in a period when there have been significant changes in prices of other nuts is attributed to reasonable steady growth in global usage, Pankaj N Sampat, a Mumbai-based dealer told BusinessLine.

Current price range for W240 is $3.75-3.90, W320 $3.50-3.65, W450 $3.40-3.50, SW320 $3.35-3.45, SW360 $3.25-3.35, Splits $3.2-3.35 and Pieces $3-3.15, all per lb (fob).

Meanwhile, Indian cashew exports during the first nine months of the current fiscal have shown a decline of 19.5 per cent from that of April- December 2014-15, according to Cashew Export Promotion Council of India.

Exports dip

Total shipments in April-December 2015 stood at 72,284 tonnes valued at ₹3,677.23 crore against 89,834 tonnes valued at ₹4,048.76 crore in the same period last year. The average unit value was at ₹508.72/kg during the current fiscal whereas it stood at ₹450.69 last year. 

At the same time imports of raw cashew nuts (RCN) showed an increase of 36,674 tonnes over the imports in the same period last year.During 2015, price of RCN was low in February/March before beginning of the Northern Crop, which accounts for over 75 per cent of world production. They moved in April/May when trading volume was at peak and edged down in July/August. 

Prices moved up again in September-November when the Southern crop was being traded and eased a bit in last two weeks.

Price outlook

On an average, Pankaj said, RCN prices in 2015 were about 25 per cent higher than that of 2014 but there was almost no change in kernel prices. 

This is putting pressure on processor margins. Looking at current situation, the trade is of the opinion that some volatility in prices is likely to prevail in the first quarter. 

If kernel demand in January/February is not very strong and if 2016 crops are very good, it is possible that RCN prices could dip a little in March/May, he added.

http://m.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/

growers gear up for a big year Wed Feb 17, 2016

Australian macadamia growers gear up for a big year Wed Feb 17, 2016 Australian macadamia growers will take time  out from their busy harvest preparations this  week to attend important industry ‘MacGroup’  workshops up and down the east coast of Australia. More than 150 Northern Rivers macadamia growers are expected to attend the two Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) events at Wollongbar DPI (Thursday 18 Feb and Saturday 20 February) where they will hear from industry experts on a variety of key topics and see the results of the industry’s world-leading 20-year breeding program. Topics include: Australian macadamia industry breeding program results unveiled - growers will view and assess the best performing selections from the industry’s world-leading breeding program at the NSW DPI Centre for Tropical Horticulture. The latest tree selections will be released in 2017-18, the culmination of over 20 years of dedicated research*. Protecting and maintaining market stability for the Australian macadamia industry (Lynne Ziehlke, AMS Market Development Manager) Internal financial risk management for your business (AMS Productivity Development Officer Robbie Commens) Update on the outlook for the global macadamia market in 2016, with a particular focus on China (Stahmann Farms’ Richard Genest) Australian Macadamia Society’s Productivity Development Officer Robbie Commens said the Australian macadamia industry leads the world in the production of premium macadamia kernel and events like these are crucial in helping Australian macadamia growers to stay at the forefront of the global industry and keep up with growing global demand. “Coming off a really good season last year, the mood in our industry is one of optimism, and growers are keen to learn about how they can better manage their business and take advantage of new opportunities,” said Robbie. “Early indications for this season are promising, and the AMS will do whatever we can to assist growers to maximise their full potential.”  There will be two workshops in the Northern Rivers to cater to the large number of growers across the region, the largest producing region in Australia (producing around 48% of the Australian crop).  The MacGroups will take place in Nambucca, the Northern Rivers, Glass House Mountains, Gympie and Bundaberg.  They are jointly funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia and the Australian Macadamia Society, and sponsored by Stahmann Farms Enterprises.  *The farm walks are being held at the regional variety trial sites in Bundaberg and Alstonville. The trials are part of the Macadamia Regional Variety Trials project which is led by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries with support from Hort Innovation, the Australian Macadamia Society and New South Wales Department of Primary Industries. Date: 18 February 2016 Time: 9am - 12pm, Free BBQ lunch 12pm - 12.30pm, Farm Walk from 1pm  Location: Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute, 1243 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar (followed by NSW DPI Centre for Tropical Horticulture at 494 Bruxner Highway at 1pm) Date: 20 February 2016 Time: 9am - 12pm, Free BBQ lunch 12pm - 12.30pm, Farm Walk from 1pm Location: Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute, 1243 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar (followed by NSW DPI Centre for Tropical Horticulture at 494 Bruxner Highway at 1pm) Growers wishing to attend the workshops, should phone the AMS on +61 2 6622 4933 to register. For more information: Nyree Epplett Australian Macadamia Society Tel: +61 2 6622 4933 Mob: + 61 434 261 070  Fax: +61 2 6622 4932 nyree.epplett@macadamias.org www.australian-macadamias.org Source: http://www.freshplaza.com/

High input costs affect Indian cashew exports

Wed Feb 17, 2016 High input costs continue to cause a decline in Indian cashew nut exports this current fiscal year, while the import of raw nuts has witnessed an upsurge. During April 2015-January 2016, shipments of cashew stood at 84,424 tons valued at ` 41 billion at an average unit value of ` 490.84 a kg. Whereas, in the corresponding period last fiscal exports were at 1,00,208 tons valued at ` 45.35 billion at a unit value of `452.60/kg. Shipments in January stood at 6,649 tons valued at ` 3.58 billion at a unit value of ` 539.33 against 10,431 tons valued at ` 4.87 billion at a unit value of ` 467.24 in January 2015. High processing costs due to an increase in imported raw nut prices coupled with a rise in wages has pushed the kernel prices up affecting the exports, Sundaran Prabha, Chairman, Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI), told BusinessLine. He attributed the rise in RCN prices to the unhealthy and unscrupulous activities by the trade. Therefore, he said, the CEPCI has urged the Union Commerce Ministry to bring in some control over imports and such trading activities. Despite high unit value, import of raw cashew nuts (RCN) showed an upsurge in January. During the month, 41,693 tons of RCN were imported at a unit value of ` 113 a kg against 27,249 tons at a unit value of ` 89/kg in January 2015. In January, the world cashew market was steady with reasonable activity in all markets.  Current price range is W240 $ 3.85-4, W320 $3.55-3.70, W450 $3.45-3.60, SW320 $3.40-3.50, Splits $3.20-3.35, Pieces $3-3.15 per lb (fob). (1 Indian Rupee= 0.015 USD) Source: thehindubusinessline.com

Ivory Coast, the world's largest producer of cashew nuts to Indian. 2016

India in 2016

Wed Feb 17, 2016

Now the Ivory Coast is the world ranking producer of cashew nuts or cashew in 2016, surpassing India, announced Monday an Ivorian responsible for the sector, at the beginning of the marketing year. "To everyone's surprise, Côte d'Ivoire became the first world producer of raw cashew nuts with a 25% market share," he told AFP Malamine Sanogo, director of cotton cashew Council (CCA) which manages the sector. On a global production expected 2.9 million tons, the country, hitherto second largest producer, will realize a 725,000 t of harvest, surpassing India (650,000 t, 22% of world production) and Vietnam (325.000 t, 11%). "It sets a goal of reaching one million tons by 2020, provided the price is right and incentive", welcomed Mr Sanogo. The purchase price to farmers was set at 350 CFA francs (0.53 euro) per kg in 2016 against 275 FCFA (0.41 euro) in the previous campaign. In 2015, the industry had achieved a record production of 702,000 tons over against 564,780 tons in 2014, the result of a reform guaranteeing a purchase price for cashew growers, as is already the case for cocoa which the country is also the largest producer. Cashew product almond used in cooking and cosmetics. The shell of the raw nuts contains a liquid used as fluid for aircraft braking systems. The cashew apple, it is used to produce wine, liquor, syrup, jam and juice. The raw cashew nuts are exported to India, Vietnam and Brazil, which have processing industries, while the main consumers are the United States (150,000 t in 2015), the European Union (110,000 t) , India (200,000 t), China (50,000 t), the United Arab Emirates (15,000) and Australia (15,000 t). Ivory Coast to meet the challenge of the low level of local processing, which was 6% in 2015. "We want to transform, go to the markets and sell the label Ivory Coast, it is very important to us," said Mr. Sanogo. To achieve this, the country has planned the construction of a school-factory, in partnership with Vietnam, to form "a skilled labor available to foreign investors." The sector has 250,000 producers grouped in twenty cooperatives and employs 1.5 million people directly or indirectly. Source: http://www.imatin.net/article/economie/la-cote-d-ivoire-premier-producteur-mondial-de-noix-de-cajou-devant-l-inde-en-2016_33596_1455699364.html