The canned tomato market is suffering from a serious shortage of raw material.
The warning has come from UK importers who have visited Naples to study the supply problems.
At least two of the biggest Italian producers are unable to operate their factories because of the supply shortage.
Heavy rain has caused waterlogging and picking has been restricted to manual labour.
The yield in some areas is down by 80% and farmers in the Puglia region, which accounts for 50% of the crop, say it is so bad that they have requested government cash aid.
Offers were withdrawn last week so traders will have to wait some weeks to see whether contracts will be reduced under a 'force majeure' clause.
n pistachios boom
The Californian pistachio industry is forecasting a record crop this year.
Estimates by the Californian Agricultural Statistics Service put the harvest at 280m lbs. Based on the CASS survey and past production data, marketable open in-shell is estimated to reach 224m lbs.
The previous record was set in 2000, when 241m lbs had been produced with 189m lbs of marketable open in-shell.
Harvesting has begun and should be completed in six weeks.
n price warning
Christmas is on the way as European dried fruit buyers set their programmes in motion for the festive season.
The situation is unclear on Greek currants. Rain damage has been greater than in Turkey, with uncertainty leading to a diverse set of projections of the potential harvest size. They vary from 20,000 tonnes to 30,000.
"Price movement could prove eventful as the year unfolds," said one participant.
Prices have jumped, with provincials now quoted in the region of £1,000 per tonne.
But any dramatic price rises could result in European buyers turning to other fruits.
n pink manoeuvres
The threat of US military action in the Middle East is having an effect on pink salmon prices.
With nearly 80% of the Alaskan pack going into the 418g can, prices are expected to be higher than anticipated.
Although the 213g can is popular in the UK, the larger pack is used widely in North America for promotional activity and also for the US government's military programme, which sources in Seattle say is being stepped up in the light of possible unrest in the Middle East.
n dairy exports up
The dairy markets have emerged from the holiday period looking stronger.
Domestic market recovery has come with a lift in export sales and world market prices. Reports at the start of the month of show butter trading on world markets at $1,050 (£675) per tonne, up from $950 (£610) a month earlier.
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The warning has come from UK importers who have visited Naples to study the supply problems.
At least two of the biggest Italian producers are unable to operate their factories because of the supply shortage.
Heavy rain has caused waterlogging and picking has been restricted to manual labour.
The yield in some areas is down by 80% and farmers in the Puglia region, which accounts for 50% of the crop, say it is so bad that they have requested government cash aid.
Offers were withdrawn last week so traders will have to wait some weeks to see whether contracts will be reduced under a 'force majeure' clause.
n pistachios boom
The Californian pistachio industry is forecasting a record crop this year.
Estimates by the Californian Agricultural Statistics Service put the harvest at 280m lbs. Based on the CASS survey and past production data, marketable open in-shell is estimated to reach 224m lbs.
The previous record was set in 2000, when 241m lbs had been produced with 189m lbs of marketable open in-shell.
Harvesting has begun and should be completed in six weeks.
n price warning
Christmas is on the way as European dried fruit buyers set their programmes in motion for the festive season.
The situation is unclear on Greek currants. Rain damage has been greater than in Turkey, with uncertainty leading to a diverse set of projections of the potential harvest size. They vary from 20,000 tonnes to 30,000.
"Price movement could prove eventful as the year unfolds," said one participant.
Prices have jumped, with provincials now quoted in the region of £1,000 per tonne.
But any dramatic price rises could result in European buyers turning to other fruits.
n pink manoeuvres
The threat of US military action in the Middle East is having an effect on pink salmon prices.
With nearly 80% of the Alaskan pack going into the 418g can, prices are expected to be higher than anticipated.
Although the 213g can is popular in the UK, the larger pack is used widely in North America for promotional activity and also for the US government's military programme, which sources in Seattle say is being stepped up in the light of possible unrest in the Middle East.
n dairy exports up
The dairy markets have emerged from the holiday period looking stronger.
Domestic market recovery has come with a lift in export sales and world market prices. Reports at the start of the month of show butter trading on world markets at $1,050 (£675) per tonne, up from $950 (£610) a month earlier.
{{MARKET EDGE }}
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