The Argentinean ministry for national production released the statistics reported in weekly La Gaceta Rural which show a nine per cent volume increase on 2002 in the first three months of this year. The total of sendings surpassed the 327,000 tonne mark compared to 300,000 tonnes last year. Some 271,608t were pears and apples: a 16 per cent rise on sendings last year over the same period. Pears alone topped 201,000t worth some $92.7 million with principal markets being Italy, the US, Russia and the Netherlands.

Apples saw a 33 per cent volume increase and grape sendings also climbed to 28,550t.

Stone fruit exports were also up in value and volume terms: a two per cent increase brought the total to nearly 20,000t.

Peach sendings were up dramatically by 60 per cent to 5.131t with a value of $3.3m. The UK featured as the fourth most important export market behind Spain, Brazil and the Netherlands, although the latter re-exported significant volumes to other EU member states.

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