The French season ended early with almost no stock at the end of June. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, apple stocks at the end of June are 42% lower than in 2017 and 27% below the 2013-2017 average. Following a decrease in exports across Europe in 2016, they have now increased by 4% over the year (between August 2017-May 2018) due to low European harvests following frost over the spring. European apple stocks have also decreased and are 67% below those of 2017 due to an apple shortage across Europe.
On the 1st July, European pear stocks were 28% below those of 2017. Over the first 9 months of the season, exported volume increased by 11% but over the year was still 38% below the 2012-2016 average.