USDA is publishing its biennial report this month on apples, table grapes and pears. The report provides data on US trade as well as world trade, cultivation, consumption and stocks, as well as an analysis of developments affecting world trade in apples, table grapes and pears.
Apples
World apple production for 2019/20 is estimated to increase by nearly 5.0 million tons to 75.8 million if China repairs last year's frost damage, which would more than offset declining yields in the European Union. Despite the higher supply, lower exports are expected with fewer shipments from the European Union, Moldova and Turkey.
China's production is expected to increase by 8.0 million tonnes to an almost record amount of 41.0 million tonnes, as good growth conditions were established in most major provinces. Despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, exports are estimated at over 1.0 million tonnes, returning China to the position of the largest exporter.
Apple production in the EU is expected to decrease by 3.6 million tonnes to 11.5 million tonnes, as most member states, especially Poland, have suffered losses from frost, drought, heat and hail. This will be the second time in three years that production has dropped by more than 20 percent. Due to a lower supply, exports will drop by nearly 200,000 tonnes to 1.0 million tonnes, while imports on smaller shipments from suppliers from the southern hemisphere are also estimated to be less than 470,000 tons.
Table grapes
World table grape production for 2019/20 is estimated at 23.4 million tonnes, representing an increase of more than 900,000 tonnes as a result of the upturn in Chinese supply. Exports are expected to decline slightly, as the drop in shipments from India and the United States more than offsets the increase from China and Mexico.
EU production is expected to drop by 220,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes, mainly due to damaging rains during the flowering period in Italy.
Pears
Global pear production for 2019/20 is expected to increase from 2.5 million tonnes to 23.0 million tonnes, as the upturn in production in China more than offsets losses in the European Union due to the weather.
The drop in pear production in the EU is estimated to be in excess of 400,000 tonnes to 2.2 million tonnes due to damage to the fruit. The brown marbled stinkbug has negatively impacted the pear harvest in Italy, while many member states have suffered losses from the weather.