With 39,216 metric tons the stock of Golden Delicious was lower than the previous year. The level in 2015 was slightly above 46,200 metric tons. The development of the Gala apple was different; at the time of the inventory there were 20,907 metric tons available, 4,500 metric tons of apples more than last year. The amounts of Braeburn and Idared were the same level as the previous year. The stock of the variety Jonagold was with 7,468 metric tons, 1,000 metric tons lower than the previous year.
1 January 2016 10,530 metric tons of organic apples were available, which is about 13% higher than the previous year. The competition is fierce, a decrease in prices in the supermarkets should increase the sales of the stored organic apples. The development of the wholesale prices varied considerably. The Boskoop, Braeburn and Fuji could not maintain the level of prices of the previous month. However the prices of the Elstar and Golden Delicious remained stable. The price of the Gala apple underwent minor corrections. Compared to the previous year, no clear trend has emerged. The prices of individual varieties were either below or above the level of 2015.
EU stock at the same level as last year
In the EU the stock of apples was 4.3 million metric tons and almost achieved the same level as 2015, a year with a very large apple harvest. Therefore the traders currently have the same challenges as last year. The development in the consumption of apples especially caused concern. A recent Dutch study shows a decrease in sales in the European Union. The consumption of apples decreased by 8.8% in the period from 2009 to 2013. Pears could not escape this development and the study shows that this product fell by 8.2%. And the study recommends targeted advertising campaigns, for example on social media, to draw attention to the apples of otherwise unreachable groups.
There are additional uncertainties, firstly it is difficult to calculate the export and in many regions only have very small caliber apples. These small apples are difficult to sell in supermarkets. The price improvements of last year were, to a great extent, due to successful export in Eastern European countries. We are still waiting for a similar success in this season.
Eight countries in the EU are actively trying to improve the export possibilities of apples and pears to the USA. The applications have been made in 2007 and this indicates how difficult it is to open up new international markets. Although Austria is not among those eight countries, a successful conclusion of the negotiations could decrease the pressure on the European market in 2016.
Source: Agrarmarkt Austria (www.ama.at)