Last year’s low returns for European apple growers should not be repeated in the coming season, an industryexpert has predicted.
A combination of factors sent grower returns plummeting last year, with high stock levels, the Russian ban and a higher-than-forecast total output making life tough for producers.
But analyst Helwig Schwartau from AMI, speaking at this week’s Prognosfruit conference in Merano, Italy, said he expected things to improve.
“Prices at the moment are far too low for growers,” he said. “But conditions are more favourable than last year. We can look to next season with some confidence.”
EU apple imports are expected to be lower this year, while exports are forecast to increase to 1.8 million tonnes – up from just 500,000t in 2008-09. “This is a great way to offset excess product,” he pointed out. “The euro to dollar exchange rate also means we will be exporting more and importing less.”
North Africa, and Egypt in particular, is a fertile market for increased EU apple exports, Schwartau said, while East Africa, the Middle East and Asia are also taking more fruit.
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