European market, May 2007: Indicators. Banana, avocado, orange, grapefruit, litchi, mango, pineapple, sea freight

Litchi: In 2007, Thai litchi seems less present on European markets than it had been in 2006 when it was seen regularly. It is true that it is available but in smaller quantities. May is traditionally the period during which supplies by air are replaced by arrivals in sea containers, enabling more goods to be released on the markets. Although the quantities were up on those of April, they remained smaller overall. Mango: May was a month of substantial mango supplies from many sources. At the same time, demand slowed, tending to cause the accumulation of stocks. Competition from the season's fruits also increased, resulting in more or less marked lack of interest from buyers. A series of public holidays also affected sales. Market over-supply weighed on prices that gradually dipped. The fall accelerated in the second half of the month because of greater qualitative fragility of the fruits available. Pineapple: In contrast with previous years, May was a fairly positive month with fairly fluid sales and prices that were interesting, without reaching great heights. The main reason for this comparatively good state of health of the market was the meagre quantities shipped from Latin America. The situation was completely different at the end of the month. Supplies by air were very small during the month and this made sales fluid, giving an impression of a busy market, at least at the beginning of the month. Although the 'Victoria' market started busily at the beginning of the month, the situation worsened rapidly during the month but without being catastrophic. (Résumé d'auteur