General Report
May 17th, 2016
Nakamura-Noen Co., Ltd.
Keigo Nakamura
Thank you for your usual cooperation.
- Crop 2016SH
As we mentioned in our report in February, the start of this year’s Chile and New Zealand crop was a little cold temperature and there were concerns about the growth. However, from April, the weather has been so good that the growth seems to be ok so far. It was warm until recently so the dying is likely to be late. We hope that the temperature will go down soon from now.
In April, we conducted survey to exporters who export bulbs to Japan to figure out the total quantity of crop 2016SH which all the Japanese importers ordered. The table following is comparison of the survey results from 2014 to 2016 which were done in March-April each year.
The actual imported quantities of 2 years ended up about 93% of the survey.
According to this year’s survey result, LA quantity is much less. There is a big decrease in New Zealand LA’s, and at the same time, Chile started producing new varieties (including Asiatics) which is making a slight increase. El Divo CH 12/14, for example, is good for planting after October and even Spring Higan shipping, and Chile crop filled up the shortage of crop 2015NL.
It is your orders that making a constant and stable business with both countries, and it enables handling various varieties. We sincerely thank you for your support.
2. Crop 2016NL
The information about production was complicated in February to April because of unstable world affairs, unsettled weather in Holland and bulb growers were busy with planting. It was dangerous to believe some limited information sources in such situation, and major exporters also were warning us that the production will be different from usual years especially in LA varieties.
2-1 LA
There were rapidly increasing demands of LA varieties from the active Central / South America’s market in last 2 years, and the balance of supply and demand was undersupply.
To see the statistics of crop 2015NL’s planting area (please refer to our article on July 22nd, 2015), scaling fields of LA varieties is 40% (23ha) bigger compared to year before, so it is estimated that commercial bulbs fields of crop 2016 will increase.
The prices has been adjusted to reasonable level since spring, and now we can offer you lower prices than 2015NL. Some varieties such as El Divo and Royal Trinity which exceptionally started business early stayed high.
The information was confused as mentioned before, for example, the varieties which were said to be out of production before planting season turned out to be continued production after all. It was difficult to judge the situation but we believe that there was no big confusion or misreading at our side. Another point of this year is that new varieties are more reasonable, so it is a good timing to promote shifting of varieties. You can check such varieties at our Lily Festa. Please visit this even and see the lilies, and we’d like you to challenge many varieties.
2-2 Oriental and OT
White OT’s production increase is the keyword when we talk about crop 2016NL such as Zambesi or Forever. Red and yellow OT have had big demands mainly in Asian countries, and varieties like Robina and Conca D’or have grown up to nearly 100 ha area. White OT’s development is following after and the production is becoming bigger, but it is said that the actual world demand is not as much. This caused lower prices of white OT’s, and also white Orientals being led by OT’s.
The varieties which had image of high prices, or those which are few bud counts and big sizes are required are good targets. On the other hand, as same as some LA varieties, varieties or lots which started business early stayed expensive, and it is unknown if they are as good as the price. (I believe that it should not be criticized that Japanese bulb companies make their original names to add special value or rarity value to existing varieties because it’s just their business.)
Our lot test which we started last year succeeded in verification of such added values, and is helping us purchase reasonable and good quality bubs. Our company classify the quality standards, year of the crop, and French crop in our system according to Dutch measure in order to meet each of our customer’s need.
There is no big change in colored varieties, but only Sheila is said that the production is getting smaller. There is a way of thinking that Japanese importers have to buy various sizes with high prices to save varieties which only produced for Japan’s market. However, in fact, it can’t be real solution because continuing production only for Japan’s demand is very inefficient, and Japan’s acceptable condition of purchasing quantity is not infinite.
March-April in Holland was cold and there were many rainy days delaying planting, but planting was almost finished by end of April. Judging the production result only seeing the bad weather in planting season is too early. The weather has been nice and warm in May, and we hope it remains from now on too (especially summer is important).
Because some growers were too busy planting (or some exporters took spring holiday), the prices and quality information have not been shown for some varieties. We are now making the updated stock list. We also would like you to check ‘Crop 2016NL Sales Varieties List (preliminary version)’ which we already issued according to the information so far. We estimate that the most of the prices will be lower than crop 2015NL.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask your sales staff.
3. LUNCH AT LILY FESTA
The 10th Lily Festa in Nakamura Noen will be held for the business people on June 9th, 10th, and 11th. Please apply to participation and tell us on which date you come, and we will send you admission tickets.
In this event, we will prepare buffet-style lunch. We hope that you can feel comfortable.
Please visit our event, and let’s talk about lilies together!
