Italy's kiwifruit harvest is up sharply but energy costs are a threat

According to the latest estimates from Italian professionals, the kiwifruit harvest promises to be positive both in quality and quantity, with an estimated production of around 365,000 tonnes, i.e. +20% and in some regions up to +87% compared to to 2021.

 

These positive forecasts must however be moderated by the increases in energy prices which affect the entire supply chain. According to several organizations in the sector, production costs have jumped in particular due to the price of agricultural diesel necessary for irrigation and the price of fertilizers which have an impact of at least 50 centimes per kilogram, for other organizations, the producers risk not being able to deliver the fruit due to market prices that are too low, and storage costs become unsustainable (+158% for the price of electricity and +530% for the price of gas compared to 1 year).

 

Food price inflation may also force Italian consumers to limit their purchases of fresh fruit and vegetables, which could reduce domestic demand. Exports could escape this phenomenon and continue to develop towards Asian markets, particularly South Korea, Singapore, China and the Philippines.