Despite a larger production and the effects of the Russian import ban, sales of European kiwifruit are said to be progressing well amid strong market conditions. 

A release from Italy's Centro Servizi Ortofrutticoli (CSO) said EU production came in at 646,000 metric tons (MT) - a 6% year-on-year increase.

The organization said sales had been in line with previous years, and it noted that Greek exporters were able to find markets for their fruit. The country's stocks have almost been depleted, with around 30% remaining.

Another positive for EU producers is that major Southern Hemisphere supplying countries like Chile and New Zealand are not expecting their volumes to reach their full potential, CSO said.

It said the Chilean industry was still recovering from frosts in 2013, and would likely only produce around 170,000MT - well below the country's 200,000MT potential - while New Zealand was still recovering from the outbreak of the kiwifruit vine disease Psa.

CSO added that European kiwifruit marketers were expecting a strong end to the 2014-15 campaign, given the limited availability of Northern Hemisphere produce, the good quality, and the relatively scarce Southern Hemisphere volumes.

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