B2B EXPORTEU & GLOBAL MARKETS
How pricing is built
What drives the wholesale price of prunes?
A price per kilogram means little without a specification. The same goods can carry a materially different price depending on calibre, processing and delivery terms.
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Direct answer
Which factors set the wholesale price?
Six factors drive it: calibre, moisture, whether the pit is removed, packaging type, volume and Incoterms. Larger calibres command the highest price because the crop yields fewer of them. We do not publish a price list, because it would be inaccurate for most projects — pricing is quoted against a specification.
Decision data
Six factors that move the price
This is why a quotation starts with a specification rather than a price per kilogram. Without calibre, packaging, volume and Incoterms, any figure is unreliable and usually wrong for the specific project.
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Calibre | Larger fruit (30/40, 40/50) commands more because the crop yields less of it |
| Pit | Pitting is an additional operation and raises processing cost |
| Moisture | Higher moisture means more water in the weight being paid for |
| Packaging | Bulk is cheaper per kilogram than retail packaging |
| Volume | Larger runs lower the unit cost of preparation and packing |
| Incoterms (EXW, FCA, CIF) | Determines who carries transport, insurance and customs cost |
Direct answer
Why are prunes several times more expensive than fresh plums?
One kilogram of prunes requires 3 to 4 kilograms of fresh plums, because the drying yield is 30 to 33 per cent. Drying energy, grading, sorting, pitting and packing are added on top of the raw material. The gap against fresh fruit is therefore mostly processing cost rather than margin.
Reference values
What goes into the price of one kilogram
Instead of a price list, this is the cost structure behind the figure. Every line moves the final price, which is why a quotation is always tied to a specific specification and volume.
| Item | What it covers | Reference figure |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Fresh plums for drying | Yield 30–33 %; 3–4 kg fresh per kilogram dried |
| Drying | Energy and time in the facility | Typically 20–24 h, from 75–78 °C down to 50–60 °C |
| Grading | Sorting by fruit size | Calibres 30/40 to 80/90 under UNECE DDP-07 |
| Selection | Removing out-of-spec fruit | Uniformity set by the standard |
| Pitting | Pitted product only | Additional operation and loss |
| Packaging | Bulk or retail format | Bulk is more favourable per kilogram |
| Documentation | Analyses and certificates | Scope depends on the destination market |
| Transport | Depends on the agreed term | EXW, FCA or CIF |
Prices are quoted on request only, against a specific specification, volume and delivery term. Public market data on agricultural commodity prices in Serbia is published by STIPS, the market information system of the Ministry of Agriculture. STIPS — market data
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Send the known parameters. Open items can be defined in a technical discussion.