Further downward revisions in the New Zealand pipfruit estimates puts volume at around 14 per cent down on last season.
Bosses said that the revision has been made in light of the clearer picture afforded by he fact the harvest has now been complete and much of the fruit packed.
Last year’s crop was a record 364,000 tonnes. Revised estimates now suggest that the total export crop for 2005 will be 315,000 tonnes, down 14 per cent on 2004. This compares with the pre-season estimate of 336,000 tonnes.
Earlier predictions had estimated a drop of 11 per cent on the 2004 figures.
Ian Palmer, Pipfruit NZ chairman, estimates from an analysis of packhouse data and packaging company supplies that the crop will be 17.5 million cases.
“This further reduction has largely been brought about by a smaller Braeburn crop in Hawke’s Bay and a reduction in the Fuji crop from both Hawke’s Bay and Nelson,” he said.
“The Braeburn are excellent size and quality, and remain on target from Nelson, but lower harvest volumes and packouts in the Hawke’s Bay crop is going to shave a further 200,000 cases from export volumes.
This is likely to bring total Braeburn exports down to 126,500 tonnes or 7 million cases compared to 150,000 tonnes last year.”
He said the industry had struggled in both major growing regions for colour on Fuji this year, and volumes will be well down.
“The Cox and Pacific Rose crops are also showing smaller volumes than preseason estimates,” he added.
