The global apple harvest for 2022/23 is projected to decrease by 3.9 million tons to 78.8 million tons, primarily due to adverse weather conditions in China and reduced acreage. High temperatures during flowering in Shaanxi and Shandong provinces have limited fruit set, and some growers are converting apple trees to grain farming, leading to a further decrease in production. However, increased production in the European Union, especially in France and Italy, and in the United States, where a record crop in Michigan offsets losses in Washington, may mitigate the decline. Exports are expected to drop significantly due to reduced stocks, while imports may increase slightly from New Zealand.
The pear production for the same period is also expected to decrease by 647,000 tonnes to 23.9 million tons, with China experiencing significant losses due to weather damage. However, recoveries in Argentina and the European Union may balance out the decline. Exports are expected to remain stable, and there may be a slight increase in imports due to new deliveries from South Africa. In the European Union, while the high number of sunny days promises excellent taste quality, drought and high temperatures could affect storage capacity.