On the 1st of October, the 2021 French apple production was expected to be clearly lower compared to the average of the last 5 years, and inferior to the already weak 2020 harvest. The marketing of the 2021 harvest is delayed and prices are higher than in previous years, as indicated by the Agricultural Statistics Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
Marketing delay and high prices
In September 2021, marketing on the domestic market was not quite in place yet due to the production delay. Prices were sustained by the production deficit and 20% higher than last year’s prices and 26% higher than the 2016-2020 average.
Marketing for the 2021-2022 table apple campaign started 10 days late, in August 2021, with the early summer varieties like the Gala. Prices are favorably oriented. WAPA predicts that the 2021 European apple production will be 10% higher than in 2020 and 5% higher than the 2016-2020 average. The production from Poland, could reach significant levels after the last 2 more limited harvests (+22% since last year and +16% compared to the 2016-2020 average). The German and Spanish productions have increased by 6% and 28% respectively since last year. Like France, Italy was affected by the frost episode in the spring, and saw its harvest reduced by 4% compared to last year. The European production of the Gala variety is 8% higher than last year, reaching its highest level in at least 10 years.
For the 2020-2021 campaign, the apple revenue was stable at the French national level compared to last year and 3% higher than the average of the past 5 years. However, this average evolution hides a great disparity between the regions. In PACA, the revenue is 11% higher compared to last year, and in Aquitaine, it is 17% lower. From August 2020 to May 2021, the volumes of French apples exported within the European Union are 8% lower than last year and 23% lower than the 2015-2019 average. In 2020, the trade surplus increased by 24% in a year.
Source: Agreste