The reopening of the Vietnamese market was good news for Australian pear exporters, who hope to be soon in line to start shipping there again, now that Australia has allowed imports of Vietnamese lychees. In 2013, Australia exported 82 tonnes of pears to Vietnam, up on the 64 tonnes of the previous year. For the first nine months of 2014, before the market closed in January, pear shipments had increased to 106 tonnes.
The Australian Horticultural Exporters Association (AHEA) has confirmed that pears are a significant part of produce traded between the two countries, behind citrus and table grapes, cherries and stonefruit. “We are pleased to have trade re-opened to Vietnam and hope to see the discussions progressing on other commodities in the near future,” said AHEA’s Michelle Christoe.
APAL Industry Services Manager Annie Farrow had indicated that she was eager to see the Department of Agriculture work with the Vietnamese government and achieve access to the market again. “Whilst our export volumes to Vietnam have been small in the past, it is an important and expanding market to a number of growers,” she said in an update on the APAL website.
Pear exports to Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand have increased year on year, and total volumes were 3,317 tonnes by May 2015, worth A$5.5 million. This result was 13 per cent ahead of last year, according to APAL. Indonesia is a key export market for Australian pears again in 2015, along with Canada and New Zealand, and so far pears do not appear affected by the removal of quotas for Australian citrus to be imported to Indonesia.
Domestically coolroom stocks are slightly down on what they were last year for Australian pear producers, thanks to an extremely good quality harvest. APAL CEO John Dollisson said in an update that growers are disappointed at low prices, because the eating quality has been so good.
Picking this season was completed in May for major producers, according to an APAL spokesperson. The major varieties were Packham, William, with more niche types including Buerre Bosc, Corella and Josephine were still well represented in the consumer market this year.
For more information and updates, visit the APAL website: www.apal.org.au