Global Apple Production Set To Rebound in 2024

The Fresh Apples, Grapes, and Pears: World Markets and Trade report recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service forecasts an increase in global apple production in 2024. Following a 5% reduction in 2023, the industry is poised for a rebound to 83.1 million metric tons, with increased supplies from China, South Africa and the United States compensating for reductions in Turkey and the European Union.

The report predicts that U.S. apple production will increase by 56,000 metric tons to a total output of 4.4 million metric tons. After severe weather affected crops last spring, favorable growing conditions have contributed to a recovery in Washington state, the country’s largest apple producer. This rise in production is likely to be reflected in increased exports, particularly to Mexico, with total exports estimated to rise to 820,000 metric tons. The removal of retaliatory tariffs by India last September is also anticipated to boost exports to the Indian market. The report also projects a slight rise in U.S. apple imports to 110,000 metric tons due to increased shipments from the Southern Hemisphere.

Apple production in China, the world’s largest producer, is expected to increase to 45.0 million metric tons in 2024, with greater production in Shanxi, Henan, Hebei, Liaoning and Sichuan provinces offsetting declines in Shandong and Gansu. The reduced output in certain regions is attributable to agricultural policies that encourage or even require farmland to be used for alternative crops, such as grains, cotton, oil seeds, sugar and vegetables. Farmers are reportedly working hard to optimize the yields of existing orchards through practices such as high-density plantings of dwarf trees.

The report anticipates a decrease of 475,000 metric tons within the European Union, bringing total apple production to 12.2 million metric tons. Higher-than-normal fruit drop and cold temperatures during blooming affected pollination in Europe’s top producers such as Poland. Despite these losses, quality will likely remain high, as production in France and Spain recovers from the sustained high temperatures last year.

With favorable growing conditions and newly planted orchards coming into full production, apple production in South Africa is forecast to increase by 80,000 metric tons to reach 1.2 million metric tons. The report also anticipates an improvement in quality after hailstorms damaged last year’s crop.

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This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.