The first new-season European apricot forecast suggests production across the four major Mediterranean supply countries – Italy, France, Greece and Spain – will be slightly down on last year's volume, but above the average figure for the previous five years.
According to figures released by Europech', held during this week's Medfel trade fair in Perpignan, France, apricot output in those four countries will be 538,033 tonnes this season, down 1 per cent on the 543,557 tonnes produced in 2009.
That forecast represents a 2 per cent increase on the average figure of 528,918 tonnes for the period 2004-2008.
In Italy, apricot production is set to come in at 227,960 tonnes, 5 per cent up on the 216,510 tonnes produced in 2009 and a similar increase on the five-year average.
Meanwhile in France, apricot volumes are anticipated to be 170,003 tonnes, down 10 per cent on the previous campaign but 15 more than the average for 2004-2008.
Spain is expected to see its apricot production fall dramatically, with output set to fall 20 per cent year-on-year to 69,670 tonnes from 86,843 tonnes last season. That forecast figure would be 29 per cent lower than the five-year average.
In contrast, Greek apricot volumes are set to soar by 35 per cent to 70,400 tonnes from 52,100 tonnes in 2009, although that represents only a 10 per cent increase on 2004-2008.
Apricot production forecast 2010 (tonnes)
Country | Volume | +/- on 2009 | +/- on 2004-2008 |
Italy | 227,960 | +5% | +5% |
France | 170,003 | -10% | +15% |
Greece | 70,400 | +35% | +10% |
Spain | 69.670 | -20% | -29% |
Total | 538,033 | -1% | +2% |
Source: Europech' / Medfel
