The Spanish production of apples in 2016 will again exceed five hundred thousand tonnes, reaching 509,000 tonnes, which is a 6% increase compared to last year (and +5% compared to the average for the last three years). This situation is in countertrend compared to the overall average of the EU countries, as in 2016, Europe recorded a decrease of about 3% compared to 2015. Among the main factors that have led to this situation in Europe are the frosts recorded last winter in several areas of Central Europe, such as Slovenia, Austria, Croatia and Hungary. Overall, the production of the 21 largest European growers of apples (Great Britain included) in 2016 is expected to reach 12.005 million tonnes, compared to 12.325 million tonnes last year.
These are some of the data announced on 4 August in Hamburg on the occasion of the 2016 edition of Prognosfruit, the annual conference organised by the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA). Given the sector's resilience, Europe will have a normal situation as far as production volumes are concerned on the eve of Interpoma, the only event in the world dedicated exclusively to the apple sector, which is scheduled to take place between 24 and 26 November 2016 in Bolzano.
As regards the largest producing countries, Poland's prospects for 2016 foresee an increase of about 4%, from 3,979,000 to 4,150,000 tonnes, while Italy expects its results to keep in line with those of 2015, with some 2,282,000 tonnes. Worthy of note is France's negative prospect, with a 7% drop compared to last year and a return to a level only slightly above that of two years ago. As for France, data supplied by the WAPA point to 1,564,000 tonnes, compared to 1,674,000 in 2015. The German case is the opposite, as on the eve of the start of the 2016 campaign it expects an 8% growth, with 1,052,000 tonnes compared to 973,000 last year. In general, the situation is very critical in several areas of Central Europe due to the impact of frost last winter. Double-digit losses are expected in several countries, including Austria (-88%), Slovenia (-83%), Croatia (-65%), Slovakia (-58%) and the Czech Republic (-28%). We also see a 20% drop in Portugal, while Great Britain remains at last year's level, or even slightly higher (+3%).
The operators attending Interpoma 2016 will discuss how to deal with problematic situations, such as the Russian embargo, during years of normal production (2015 and 2016 are on track to be very similar from this point of view), as well as the dynamics observed in various traditional markets, where new generations have significantly reduced their demand for apples.
"The needs of consumers haven't changed a lot, only their age," explains Kurt Werth, organiser of the conference "Apples in the world", to be held during Interpoma 2016. "In Germany, for example, which is a traditional market for many producers of apples, the older generation has not been completely replaced by the new, as young people consume fewer apples. So we've had to look for new markets, such as North Africa and others," continues Werth.
There is also increased competition between East and West. Werth reveals that "although the export of apples to Russia had only a relative importance for Western Europe, with the continuation of the embargo Poland is increasingly pushing westward. Recently, I went on a trip to Russia for three weeks, during which I visited several cities, up to the peninsula of Kamchatka, and in supermarkets I found only apples from New Zealand."
Another issue highlighted by Werth is the need for greater efficiency to overcome present and future challenges. "As forecasts this year are very similar to those of 2015, the focus will be on the quality and efficiency of operators."
The data on the different varieties is also worth some consideration. At EU level, Prognosfruit data record a 7% decrease for the Golden Delicious (which remains the most widely grown variety), whose production stands at 2,364,000 tonnes, followed by the Gala (1,329,000 tonnes, down 4%). Third in the podium is the Idared, with 1,064,000 tonnes in 2016 and a decline estimated at 6%.
In this regard, Werth comments that "if the forecasts are confirmed, this year's production should be a normal one, but it can be confusing to speak only of quantity, regardless of quality. The price of club varieties grown in limited volumes, such as the Pink Lady, Kanzi and Jazz, has already tripled compared to that of older varieties, such as the Golden and others. The main variety grown in Poland, i.e., the Idared, reaches a fifth of the value of those club varieties. It is therefore obvious that speaking only of quality can be misleading without taking other important factors into account."
Interpoma 2016 appears, therefore, as a unique opportunity for operators in the apple sector to talk about new markets, technological innovations, efficient logistics and new varieties, in a sector that, year after year, sees an increase in the competition among producing countries.
For more information:
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Elena Vincenzi and Stefania Duminuco
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