According to data compiled by the US department of agriculture, combined sendings of apples and pears have risen to more than 400,000tonnes for the five months to end-May. This is a 15 per cent rise on last season's volumes for the same period and significantly improved on the lower volume year of 1999-2000.

The effect of devaluation has been to boost exports and improve peso returns to growers in the leading regions of Rio Negro and Neuquen, reports the USDA.

However, dollar returns to exporters are down eight per cent due to devaluation of the peso by more than 250 per cent since January this year.

Topics