Papaya/Cepea: Prices rise for the third consecutive week, but demand declines

In the latter half of February, papaya prices in Brazil experienced a rise, with the increase varying across regions. The Hawaii 12-18 variety in the North of Espírito Santo saw a 12% increase, reaching R$ 4.23/kg. The Formosa variety in the South of Bahia rose by 8% to R$ 3.10/kg, and in the West of Bahia, it increased by 22% to R$ 3.33/kg. The price hike is attributed to lower papaya availability in producing areas. Despite the increased prices, there are early signs of demand slowing down due to the consistent price increases, which may lead to a stabilization or slight decrease in prices as February draws to a close.

The second half of February ended with an increase in papaya prices, but to a lesser extent compared to the first week of February. According to Hortifrúti/Cepea agents, this week (10 to 14/02), in the North of Espírito Santo, Hawaii 12-18 was traded at R$ 4.23/kg, an increase of 12% compared to the previous week. Likewise, in the South of Bahia, the Formosa variety was sold at R$3.10/kg, an increase of 8% in the same comparison. A similar scenario was recorded in the West of Bahia, where the same variety was quoted at R$ 3.33/kg, an increase of 22%. Just like at the beginning of the month, this scenario of higher prices continues to be a reflection of the lower availability of papayas in the producing areas, which contributed to the increases recorded. However, it is worth highlighting that even with the increase in prices, it is possible to notice that demand, which was quite strong last week, ...