Europe
Apple Prices in Europe Are at a Five-Year High (Jan 20)
According to data from the European Commission, the packing point price of edible apples has stubbornly maintained an average price level of USD 0.85 (0.78 euro) for months. The average value based on the data of the top-4 apple producers simultaneously includes the extremely high French and outrageously low Polish prices (not weighted by volume). Last year's apple harvest was average in the EU, almost the same as in 2021, and no Member State experienced a decline similar to Hungary's (-33%). The production of Spain (-29%) and Portugal (-24%) also decreased significantly, but all this had no effect on the total amount, because the difference was balanced by the Polish harvest, which was the second largest of the last 10 years with 4.7M MT. Apples are the most expensive in France, the price of one kilogram is already close to USD 1.36 (1.25 euros).
Poland
Polish Apple Suppliers Plan to Change Payment Terms to Avoid Losses (Jan 18)
According to Polish apple suppliers, there is a broad market shift happening in payment terms. During the precious season, many suppliers shipped apples to export markets with payment "at arrival" terms. However, a lot of them experienced losses due to not receiving the payment upon arrival. This is an industry-wide problem, and as a result, many suppliers seem to be changing payment terms to 100% in advance or raising prices by the margin paid at arrival to minimize/avoid loss.
Spain
Data Analysis: The Wholesale Price of Apples in Spain Plunged 20% WoW Due to Limited Supply (Jan 18)
The wholesale price of fresh apples-Granny Smith in Spain plummeted 20% WoW to USD 1.20/kg in W3 in January 2023. Compared to the same week in the previous month, the decrease is significant, with a 24.52% MoM reduction from USD 1.59/kg. According to Nicolas Pagliettini Tridge, Global Origination Manager in Spain, there is a shortage of larger-caliber apple fruit due to heat waves and droughts in summer. Smaller-sized apples are pressuring prices, while traders in Spain are trying to use the existing situation to be competitive in the EU market due to the firm ground of cheaper Italian apples. In the upcoming period, expectations are that prices in Spain will be under pressure due to the abundance of small-caliber Granny Smith apples.
Belgium
Belgian Apple Stocks Are Shrinking in the First Month of 2023 (Jan 20)
Belgian apple stocks decreased in the first month of the new year. Figures from the stocks of apples and pears from the Association of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives (VBT) show that the number of apples on January 1, 2023 was estimated at more than 81K MT compared to almost 120K MT on December 1, 2022. The decrease in the Jonagold stock apple, in particular, is striking from almost 60K MT in December to over 36K MT in January. However, it still occupies the largest part of the stock.
Moldova
Moldova Is Among the World’s Top 10 Apple Exporters (Jan 22)
Moldova produces an average of 550K MT of apples, as much as Hungary in a good year. In 2021, it had a record crop of 650K MT, and exported 225K MT of it, making it one of the world's top 10 apple exporters. While their main customer used to be Russia, in 2022 the market shrank due to the war. However, Moldovan traders did not despair, as they had built up their sales channels in many countries in previous years. Last year, Moldovan apples arrived in 32 states, while in 2021 "only" 18.
Germany
Local Apple Fruit Predominant (Jan 19)
Local apple fruit was predominant, with Elstar, Jonagold, Boskoop and Braeburn as the basis of the range. Jazz appeared in Frankfurt and cost USD 30.52/13 kg box (€28).
Canada
The Provincial Government of British Columbia Will Provide Support to Apple Farmers (Jan 21)
The provincial government of British Columbia will provide support in four strategic areas to help the apple industry continue to provide local fruit, compete with the neighboring Washington State in the United States, and stimulate the economy in an important agricultural region. The Minister of Agriculture and Food announced USD 1.8M (CAD 2.5M) over two years to support crop health, fruit production, apple marketing, and skills training. The decision comes after years of lobbying by farmer and producer groups, especially after a few years of poor harvests due to changing weather patterns.
Ukraine
The Number of Main Consumers of Apples Has Decreased (Jan 17)
On January 17, wholesale apples were offered at an average price of USD 0.22- 0.27/kg (UAH 8-10), depending on the quality, variety, and terms of delivery. The pace of sales in 2023 is lower due to a decrease in purchasing power and the outflow of the main consumers, children and women, abroad. According to analyst Maria Lakeyeva, if compared with previous years, the pace of sales of apples within the country is an order of magnitude lower due to a decrease in the purchasing power of the population and a decrease in the overall number of the main consumers of apples in the country, children and women. Due to the hostilities in Ukraine, a significant number of them are now abroad.
According to EastFruit analysts, Ukrainian gardeners were able to resume the export of fresh apples to the countries of Southeast Asia and the Middle East, despite Ukrainian seaports blocked by Russian invaders. Within a few months after the start of the military aggression of the Russian invaders against Ukraine, the gardeners and traders of Ukraine were able to find new logistics routes and resume supplies to the most remote countries. Of course, the income of Ukrainian producers will decrease due to the increase in logistics costs, but they will help cover the production costs for efficient gardeners, laying the foundation for active expansion into foreign markets after defeating the Russian aggressor. For the first quarter of the 2022/23 season (August-September), compared to the same period last season, Ukraine increased apple exports to the UAE by 2% and to Qatar by 11%. Also sharply, more than three times, increased the volume of exports of fresh Ukrainian apples to Uzbekistan. At the same time, exports to the EU countries declined quite sharply. Among the EU countries that continued to import significant volumes of apples from Ukraine in the first quarter, only Romania and Sweden can be noted.
India
First Shipments of Moldovan Apples Have Arrived in India (Jan 20)
Apples from Moldova have a new market. More than 100 tons of Moldovan apples were shipped for the very first shipment to India. These apples arrived in early January. Diana Vlasiuc, specialist in export market development for Moldova Fruct, says traders from India have always shown an interest in apples from Moldova.
Indonesia
Slow Fruit Import Market in Indonesia During the Beginning of 2023 (Jan 19)
The Indonesian fruit import market has been slow since the beginning of 2023. In W3, some importers based in Surabaya-Indonesia mentioned that the Chinese New Year brings a high demand for mandarins, with some other imported products such as apple and longan not selling well due to the local season making local fruits cheaper.
