French walnut crop up in 2005

Preliminary estimates indicate that the 2005 French walnut harvest was high in quality and quantity compared with lower harvests in 2003 and 2004, which were negatively affected by drought. In 2005, in the two main producing regions of France (Grenoble and Perigord), average walnut grades were larger than in the past two years. The French Ministry of Agriculture estimates that current walnut stocks are low due to strong demand from both domestic and export markets. France is a net exporter of walnuts. In MY 2004/05, due to increased shipments of in-shell walnuts to Germany, Spain and Moldova and reduced imports of shelled walnuts from Moldova, France's trade surplus in walnuts almost tripled to more than 9,000 MT.