Keigo Nakamura

Thank you very much for your usual cooperation.
I’d like to report the 2011 SH crop.

1 Harvest Result

Chile and NZ crops this year were planted earlier than usual, and they showed good growth when I visited there in summer. (Please refer to “SH business trip report” on Feb8, 2011.)
The research in harvesting period was good impression, too. However, some parts of Rakaia NZ (Royal Van Zanten and Bakker) had frost in early April, and it stopped the growth and caused big shortage at mainly Royal Van Zanten.

The main shortage varieties are;
NZ : Sheila, Tiara, Rialto, Constanta, Maurena.

CH : Sorbonne( Southern Bulbs, not trouble to customers), Yelloween (change to bigger sizes because of too much growth), Vletter-line new varieties

Additionally, there were some shortage of Lombardia NZ, and no Lake Carey CH and no Lake Michigan CH, because they did not have lot numbers for Japan.

2. Estimation of import quantity 2011 SH crop

We sent out questionnaires to export companies, and totaled up the amount of selling to Japan.

Aziatics / LA

We stocked up 2011 crop as much as possible since there was a huge shortage of 2010 crop from Royal Van Zanten’s reduction. However, in spite of the effort we could not reach 2009.

2010 NL crop is not enough at all, so we should have got more 2011 SH.

Oriental / OT

2011 OR / OT was nearly less than last year because of shortage, even though some people talked about overproduction (this happens every year, by the way).

Winter crop was reduced in summer production-areas, and some growers reduced their planting considering the earthquake’s influence. Also bulb companies didn’t keep many stocks. These are the possible reasons for this year’s result.

Think About Import Quantity of All Japan
We expect that 2010 crop is the last year of the decline of import quantity.
It seems to increase by 1-2% in statistics at the end of August, but since the data includes the import quantity of our company imported all in August, which is normally done in September. Therefore it will be about the same as last year after all.
Annual total import quantity will be about 140,000,000;

140,000,000 = 113,300,000 pcs. of 2010 NL crop + 27,000,000 of 2011 SH crop; which is more than last year by 0.5%.

3. Colour rates in 2011 SH orders from customers (OR / OT)

The graph shows the colour rates of our SH crop orders.
Usually the rates of white and pink change places year every year. This year, however, white and pink are well balanced. This might be because many customers chose pink varieties which grow faster, considering of oil costs.

We started delivery of LA (2011 SH crop) this month

For Oriental varieties, please plant them from October after rooting.If you need OR bulbs earlier, please tell your sales staff.

It’s getting cooler in morning and night.
The rise of oil price has finally settled down and it going to be more actual economy.。
Please take care of yourselves!