Despite shrinking areas: Apple production continues to grow

Global apple production has been steadily increasing over the past decades, despite the reduction in arable land and the challenges posed by climate change and the restructuring of agricultural policies in many countries. According to the latest data from the United Nations, in 2023, global production exceeded 97.2 million tons of apples, cultivated on approximately 11 million hectares, reports ypaithros.gr. The average yield is estimated at 8.57 tons per hectare, while in the 1960s, when the UN recorded data, production was steadily increasing at an average annual rate of 3%. Although the total area reached a peak in 1995, the yield per hectare has increased impressively, with productivity rising by 172% from 1995 to 2023. China remains the undisputed leader in global production, accounting for over 50% of the total. In 2023, it produced approximately 49.5 million tons. According to the World Apple and Pear Producers Association (WAPA), apple production in China for the 2025/26 ...