W19: Apple Update

In W19 in the apple landscape, it was reported that Iran exported 550KT of apples worth USD 170M during the FY 2022/23, with the main destinations being Pakistan, Iraq, India, Russia, and Afghanistan. During the FY 2022/23 Iran produced 4MT of apples, a 7% decrease YoY due to weather changes. Iran ranks third in apple orchard area and fourth in apple production.

The supply of Italian apples is 378,311T in 2023, 10% lower than the previous five years and 16% lower YoY. Sales of Red Delicious have increased, while the supply of Fuji apples is 37% lower. Satisfactory sales are recorded for new varieties and organic apples. Demand is not in line with supply, and producers must modulate decumulation plans to ensure the correct remuneration for the fruit farmers. In Poland, the prices of Golden Delicious have increased significantly recently, with producers offering USD 0.48/kg (PLN 2/kg) for apples over 70mm in diameter and USD 0.39/kg (PLN 1.6/kg) for apples from 65 to 70 mm in diameter. The increasing prices are due to the lack of Mutsu apples in cold stores in Kazakhstan, as well as in Western Europe, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Additionally, the production of Golden Delicious in Italy is lower due to the replacement of plantings with club varieties. Apple prices in Ukraine have also increased by an average of 23% during W19. The price increases are driven by seasonal factors, with stocks of last year's apples rapidly decreasing and the early apple season delayed. Prices will continue to rise until the arrival of the new apple crop.

Moldova exported 13.5KT of apples in April 2023, the lowest figure in five years. In March 2023, 19KT were exported, and in February and January 2023, 15KT each. In total, the country exported 62KT of apples, including 18KT to the EU countries. On the other hand, India is one of the top five apple importers globally and has modified the import process to restrict access to its market for low-cost suppliers. In 2022, India imported 392KT of apples worth USD 320M, ranking as the fourth top apple importer. Further, India has banned the import of apples priced less than or equal to USD 0.61/kg (INR 50/kg), to protect Indian fruit growers from the influx of cheap apples from Iran. This ban will not apply to Polish apples that reach the local market.

In Brazil, the codling moth is a dangerous pest that affects apples, pears, and quince. A team from the Department of Plant Protection and Cidasc led a long-term pest management operation in Santa Catarina nine years ago. The National Program for the Prevention and Control of Cydia pomonella (PNPCC) was established in 1994, and the codling moth was officially declared extinct in 2014. Since 2011, there have been no more codling moth cases reported, and traps are used to monitor the areas where imported fruits are moved to stop the pest from showing up again. In South Korea, Chungju City is expanding support for joint selection fees for apples and peaches and logistics costs for shared shipments. The goal of this project is to commercialize and ship agricultural products that meet demand and secure various sales channels through integrated marketing. The project details include USD 0.086/kg (KRW 115/kg) for peaches and USD 0.026/kg (KRW 35/kg) for apples for joint sorting and shipping organizations.