French fruit growers have high expectations for this year's apricot production. According to forecasts in April, apricot production in France is estimated at around 130K mt, increasing 125% YoY and 8% compared to the five-average. Although there was damage caused by weather anomalies in France, the harm was not as severe compared to the previous year’s. Producers from the Rhône-Alpes region experienced most of the damage, with losses reaching almost 80%.
The first apricots from France arrived in the market in W3 May-22. In addition to the increased production, traders are satisfied with the quality and size of the fruit, which is uniform and has good color. They also benefited from the reduced apricot production in Spain, which suffered significant frost damage and heavy rainfall. The damage is estimated at 40%, and expectations are that the apricot season in Spain will last shorter than previous seasons. The domestic consumption of apricots in France remains strong and is one of the top 5 fruits consumed in the summer. Due to the high demand, apricot traders mainly target the French market.
Source: TradeMap
In addition to the domestic market, the apricot exports are expected to increase to the surrounding countries. In 2020, Switzerland and Germany imported 65.9% of French apricots (export value of USD 19.35M).
In apricot production, deep, well-drained soils are crucial because it enables even spreading of the root system. In France, ecological apricot production is gaining popularity. There have been movements within associations to enhance sustainable farming practices, focusing on the environment and social and economic context. Environmental principles refer to limiting the use of artificial inputs and increasing biodiversity to protect beneficial organisms. The social aspect relates to workers' rights, employment of legal workers, and manual fruit picking. Finally, the economic principles rely on sustaining a viable rural economy to create jobs.
In May, the warm wave affected the fruit’s ripening and quality in France. Smaller fruits are expected due to the lack of rain, but with better quality. French growers are satisfied with the current market situation and price. The average wholesale prices range from USD 4.48-6.08/kg, depending on the variety and caliber.