Highlights
Post forecasts marketing year (MY) 2017/18 Indian apple imports will decrease year on year about five percent to 0.35 Million Metric Tons (MMT). Imports of pears also are projected lower at 0.03 MMT in MY 2017/18. The bulk of the decrease results from a temporary ban on Chinese apples and pears in India.
The shortfall will be partly offset by increases in imports of both apples and pears from the United States, which remains a major supplier of deciduous fruits to India. Total Indian table grape production is projected at 3.0 MMT, in MY 2017/18; exports are expected to increase to 0.27 MMT.
Fresh Apples
Production:
India’s MY 2017/18 apple production is forecast at 2.3 MMT, an increase in production over the previous year owing to favourable growing and weather conditions.
Trade:
Following trade liberalisation in April 1999, apple imports into India grew dramatically, reaching 0.37 MMT in MY 2016/17; imports are projected at 0.35 MMT in MY 2017/18. Apple imports from the U.S. are projected to increase despite an overall decline from the previous year owing to the temporary ban on Chinese apples by the Government of India.
Export of fresh apples from India is limited to neighbouring countries Bangladesh and Nepal at 11,755 MT and 8,706 MT, respectively, in MY 2016/17. For MY 2017/18 exports are projected to be flat at 20,000 MT.
Price
In the MY 2016/17, average unit price for fresh apples from New Zealand imported into India was USD 940 per ton; U.S. and Chinese apples were USD 1,125 and USD 840 per ton.
Fresh Pear
Production:
In MY 2016/17 pear production was down owing to unfavorable weather in the major pear-producing northern states of India. Domestic pear production for MY 2017/18 also is forecast down slightly to 0.35 MMT on the lower yields in the alternate year.
Consumption:
In MY 2017/18 consumption is projected to reach 327,500 MT, down from 332,200 MT in MY 2016/17. With limited domestic production, high unit cost of imported fruit, and increased consumption of fresh fruit, the market for processed fruit remains small at about two percent of supply.
Trade:
Imports of U.S. origin pears are expected to increase but GOI restrictions on Chinese pears will drop total imports by about 13 percent year on year, from nearly 33,900 MT in MY 2016/17 to 30,000 MT in MY 2017/18.
Total imports of fresh pears by value were USD 27 million, 21 million, and 15 million in CY 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. In CY 2016, China held the major market share for imported pears at 60 percent, followed by South Africa at 27 percent, and United States at 9 percent; in CY 2015 market share for Chinese pears was 50 percent, followed by South Africa at 31 percent, and United States at 18 percent.
Price:
Unit price for pears from China ranged between USD 600 – 760 per ton, whereas pears from United States ranged from USD 1,550 – 1,660 per ton.
Table Grapes
Production:
Grapes are an important fruit produce in India and planted area totals over 138,000 HA. More than 20 varieties of grapes are grown; Thompson seedless variety constitutes about 55 percent of the total cultivated area. Area under cultivation is up just 1.5 percent, but production is projected up by seven percent to 3.0 MMT in MY 2017/18, from 2.78 MMT on an area of 136,000 HA in MY 2016/17.
Consumption:
India is a major producer and consumer of grapes; India consumed 90% of its own production, or 2.33 MMT grapes in MY 2016/17. A consumption increase of six percent to 2.48 MMT is expected in MY 2017/18.
Trade:
India is a major exporter of fresh table grapes: exports in MY 2017/18 are projected to increase by 15 percent to 0.27 MMT, up from 0.23 MMT in MY 2016/17. Netherlands purchased 41 percent; United Kingdom, 15 percent; and Russia, 10 percent.
Last year the bulk of imports came from United States at 56 percent, Peru at 21 percent and China at 6 percent. Imports are predicted to grow by four percent in MY 2017/18 to reach 5,200 MT.
Source: gain.fas.usda.gov