W35: Apple Update

In W35 in the apple landscape, Egypt experienced a record low volume of fresh apples in the 2022/23 season due to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, which boosted local export opportunities but also negatively impacted imports. Egypt lost its position as the leading importer of apples from European Union (EU) countries in the 2021/22 season, importing only 163 thousand tons. Previously, EU countries exported 302 thousand tons of apples to the Egyptian market, and this figure has not dropped below 251 thousand tons over the previous four seasons.

Hungarian apple production costs have increased by at least 50% year-over-year (YoY), according to calculations by FruitVeB – Hungarian Vegetable and Fruit Trade Association, but the initial purchase price stood at USD 0.11 per kilogram (HUF 38/kg), which remains lower than a year ago.

The Minister of Agriculture aims to increase Polish apple exports by opening new sales markets in 2023. With the cooperation of the Polish government, 30 new markets were opened for apples, providing security and preventing losses. The embargo on Polish apples caused problems when they chose to export to Russia. The Minister believes smaller markets are better for apple exports. However, due to the uncertainties of war, he also recognizes that predicting future events can be challenging. While he believes there shouldn't be export issues, he emphasizes the need to anticipate events during times of conflict. Poland is among the European leaders in apple production and the world’s top ten. In 2022, the harvest was 5% higher than in the previous year, and reached a record level of over 4.2 million tons.

In the first eight months of 2023, Russians purchased apples four times more than pears, indicating a narrower demand gap compared to last year. SberMarket marketplace analysts compiled a list of popular varieties of apples and pears, with Russians buying apples 38% more often than in 2022 and 300% more often than in 2021.

In the United States (US), the Washington State Tree Fruit Association predicts that Washington's apple production will exceed 134 million standard 40-pound boxes of fresh apples in 2023, a 28.8% increase from 104.3 million registered boxes in 2022. The mild weather conditions in 2023 have allowed apple growers to produce a robust harvest, exceeding the average production of the last six years by 5%.