French apple grower-shippers are reporting their strongest season start in years, thanks to limited overhang of Southern Hemisphere fruit on global markets and the effects of a weaker euro.
Demand for French Gala was fierce from all markets as soon as harvesting began last week, exporters told Fruitnet.
Volumes will begin to build from this week (17 August) onwards, and the prospects into September look good, they said.
“The start of the season has been very strong – prices haven’t started this high in many years,” says Marc Peyres, export director for Blue Whale, which represents growers from across France.
Overall, French apple quality looks better than last year, he said, and the weaker euro against the pound sterling and US dollar means France can offer more competitive prices and still receive better returns.
Peyres expects demand for French apples in Europe to remain strong throughout the season, thanks to the predicted drop in northern European crops. But he is anxious about the stability of the Asian market going forward after this week's bombing of a shrine in Thailand and the continued weakening of the Chinese currency.
“Tourism may suffer in Thailand as a consequence of this tragedy, affecting the economy. Meanwhile the currency situation in China may deteriorate affecting demand there too,” said Peyres. “It’s too early to know how the Asian market will play out. France can be pretty certain to export less to China than last year, though, since last season US apples were banned, and this year they’re back.”
He said Asian markets haven’t looked this unstable since the 1997 financial crisis, and advised caution when exporting to the region.
