South Korea
Although planted area for pears continues to decline in a trend that has continued since the year 2000, expected increased yields will result in an increase in pear production of about four percent to 247,300 metric tons (MT) in marketing year (MY) 2017/18.
Pear consumption is projected to increase 4.6 percent to 214,300 MT from 204,847 MT the previous marketing year. Increased exports to the United States and Vietnam will contribute to an overall increase in exports to 27,000 MT, about 900 MT higher than the previous marketing year.
The full USDA report can be viewed here.
Taiwan’s apple production is negligible, and demand is met almost exclusively by imports. Taiwan’s 2017 domestic production of apples is projected to reach 1,500 metric tons, up slightly from the previous year because of favorable growing conditions. Apple imports are projected at 169,000 MT, up one percent from the same period last year.
The United States is the leading supplier with approximately 36 percent of the import market share. Apples are Taiwan’s leading imported fruit, and Fuji remains the most popular variety accounting for nearly 85 percent of imports.
The full USDA report can be viewed here.
Mexico
Apple production in Mexico for marketing year (MY) 2017/18 (August/July) is forecast at 720,000 metric tons (MT), a slightly larger crop compared to MY 2016/17.
Total pear imports for MY 2017/18 (July/June) are forecast to be higher compared to MY 2016/17 due to expected good demand.
Total Mexican table grape production for MY 2017/17 (May/April) is forecast at 290,000 MT and grape exports are expected to increase to about 193,000 MT due to a good crop. The United States remains the major supplier of deciduous fruits to Mexico.
The full USDA report can be viewed here.
Greece
Greece’s MY 2017/18 apple production is forecast to decrease from the previous year, down 5.2 percent, at 282,000 MT.
In MY 2017/18 pear production is forecast to increase from the previous year, up 13.8 percent, at 78,000 MT.
Greece is the second largest producer of table grapes in the EU-28, behind Italy. According to industry estimates, table grape production in MY2017/18 is forecast at 320,000 MT, up 14.3 percent compared to the previous campaign.
The full USDA report can be viewed here.
Turkey
MY2017/18 production is expected to be lower for all deciduous fruits in Turkey compared to the previous year. Forecasts are for apple production decreases to 2,750,000 MT, as there was some hail damage during June, despite a hopeful spring period during flowering.
For the 2017/8 season, Post forecasts pear production will decrease to
420,000 MT, also due to the hail damage seen during June.
Grape production forecast in Turkey for 2017/18 is 2,120,000 MT, down 10 percent from MY 2016/17 due to sporadic frost and hail damage during the spring in some regions of Manisa and Izmir.
The full USDA report can be viewed here.
New Zealand
The 2016/2017 New Zealand deciduous fruit production dipped lower than anticipated to 554,940 metric tons, 1.4 percent less than 2015/2016.
Estimates show that the total apple production for 2016/2017 at 542,400 MT, 1.2 percent below 2015/2016. In addition this is 5.5 percent, or 32,000 MT, below the previous forecast released six months ago.
Pear production is also down, estimated at 12,550 MT, ten percent below 2015/2016.
Export volumes for deciduous fruit have been affected and estimated to drop by three percent to 340,700 metric tons.
The full USDA report can be viewed here.
South Africa
The below average winter rainfall received in 2017 and the low dam levels (about thirty percent) in the
drought stricken Western Cape, will severely impact the availability of irrigation water in the 2017/18
MY.
As a result, the 2017/18 MY production and export of deciduous fruits is expected to decrease
significantly.
The 2017/18 MY apple production is forecast to decrease by six percent to 850,000 MT, from 902,129 MT in the 2016/17 MY, due to the decrease in area harvested, limited irrigation water, lower yields and smaller fruit sizes.
Pear production is seeing a similar fate as apples and in the 2017/18 MY is forecast to decrease by six percent to 405,000 MT, from 431,535 MT in 2016/17 MY, due to similar reasons.
Table grape production is also forecast to decrease by fourteen percent to 287,000 MT, from 334,000 MT in the 2016/17 MY.
The full USDA report can be viewed here.