The production of apples decreased globally by 2.6 million tonnes over the 2017/2018 season. The global production this season was 76.2 million tonnes. The positive developments in China weren't able to compensate for the losses due to the frost in Europe. This was concluded by the USDA in a recently published report. As a result of this, the consumption will also decrease and reach 64.6 million tonnes. Fewer apples will also be traded as the import as well as the export was influenced by the bad harvest in Europe. The USDA describes the situation by country.
China
The apple production maintains a rising trend and is 600,000 tonnes higher this season. This is 44.5 million tonnes. The positive developments in the western provinces more than compensate for the losses in the north of the country, where heat and drought plagued the cultivation. The consumption is pretty much stable. The larger volume is mainly sold to the industry, which buys 5 million tonnes. Delayed export to the main export market, India, decreased the total export figure by 180,000 tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes. India closed its border to Chinese apples in May 2017 as a result of phytosanitary problems. The import rose by 10,000 tonnes to 80,000 tonnes due to the demand for good quality apples from the US, Chile and New Zealand rising.
India
Thanks to favourable growing conditions the harvest is higher at 2.3 million tonnes. The export remains stable at 20,000 tonnes. The import figure is slightly lower at 350,000 tonnes due to losses after the boycott of Chinese apples not being fully compensated by the import from the US.
EU
The apple harvest is at its lowest level since 2007. With a decrease of 20%, the total harvest is 10 million tonnes. An early start to blooming in May, frost in April and heat in July put pressure on the volumes and the quality. The consequences are particularly bad in Poland and Italy. The export will follow the line of the production and be a third lower at 1 million tonnes. The import on the other hand rose by 42% to 600,000 tonnes to meet the demand now that the domestic volumes are lacking.
Russia
The central district was hit by frost, which meant the harvest was 230,000 tonnes lower at 1.3 million tonnes. Due to the lower domestic volume a revival in the import of up to 690,000 tonnes is expected. The purchasing power of the Russian does play a role. If the prices go up too much, the demand will decline. Despite the boycott of European and American product Russia is at the top of the list of largest apple importers.
New Zealand
With an increase of 30,000 tonnes the harvest is 570,000 tonnes thanks to good cultivation conditions. In the wake of the production the export will also continue to rise and reach 380,000 tonnes. Due to the improved prices the export to Europe will increase. The export to Asia is expected to remain stable.
Turkey
Due to hail damage the harvest is 150,000 tonnes lower at 2.8 million tonnes. The hail damaged the harvest in the main cultivation areas Central Anatolia and the Mediterranean areas. Because there is less export to Iraq and Egypt the export figure is lower.
United States
The harvest is 260,000 tonnes lower, which is a volume of 4.7 million tonnes. In the spring there was frost in Michigan, which limited the harvest. The harvest was also lower in other western states such as Washington. Despite the smaller harvest, more is being exported. Thanks to the large sales to India in particular the export is 890,000 tonnes. The import remains mostly the same at 175,000 tonnes thanks to stable supply from Chile.
Chile
With a limited growth of 50,000 tonnes the production this year is 1.4 million tonnes. The production is shifting due to growers in the region O'Higgins switching to the more lucrative cultivation of cherries and walnuts. The apple cultivation is shifting to the southern regions Bio bio and Araucania, where the temperature and the rains are favourable for the cultivation. The export also shows some growth and reaches 780,000 tonnes, partially due to the larger demand expected from the EU.
Mexico
Extreme weather limits the harvest in Chihuahua, the main cultivation region for apples, which keeps the total production stable at 720,000 tonnes. The import is decreasing by 17,000 tonnes to 250,000 tonnes due to the peso losing value compared to the dollar, which limited import from the main supplier the US.
Argentina
The apple harvest us 20,000 tonnes higher at 550,000 tonnes due to the good cultivation conditions resulting in a higher yield. Despite the larger volume the export remains stable at 80,000 tonnes. The consumption continues to increase, as the Argentinian products lose position on the global market and more product is brought onto the domestic market.
South-Africa
With a harvest of 850,000 tonnes the harvest is 50,000 tonnes lower. The drought limited the irrigation opportunities of the growers and with it the yield. The export will drop, unsurprisingly, to 500,000 tonnes. Due to the drought the quality is less suitable for export.