[Press Release] World Apple and Pear Association Presents 2025 Southern Hemisphere Crop Forecast

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Feb. 12, 2025 – On the occasion of its annual general meeting at Fruit Logistica, the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) has released the Southern Hemisphere apple and pear crop forecast for the upcoming season. According to the forecast, which consolidates the data from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa, apple production is set to grow by 5.5% compared with 2024, while the pear crop is expected to decrease by 3.3%.

On Feb. 7, 2025, WAPA held its annual general meeting. During the meeting, which took place during Fruit Logistica in Berlin, WAPA presented the Southern Hemisphere apple and pear crop forecast for the upcoming season. This report has been compiled based on figures from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa, and therefore provides consolidated data from the six leading Southern Hemisphere countries.

Regarding apples, the Southern Hemisphere 2025 crop forecast suggests an increase of 5.5% to a total of 4,746,639 tons compared with last year (4,499,328 tons). South Africa is expected to maintain its lead as the largest producer with 1,474,767 tons (+3.4% from 2024), followed by Brazil (950,000 tons, +14.2%), Chile (920,000 tons, +0.7%), New Zealand (544,949 tons, +5.6%), Argentina (537,000 tons, +5.8%) and Australia (319,923 tons, +5.5%). With 1,564,499 tons, Gala is by far the most popular variety, with its volume growing by 6.8% from 2024 although 2.3% below the average of the previous three years. Exports are also expected to increase (+5.3%) to reach 1,653,976 tons. South Africa (+5.5%) and Chile (+1%), the two largest exporters, are both expected to increase their export volumes, reaching 641,488 and 507,000 tons, respectively. Exports from New Zealand should grow by 9.7% (376,106 tons in total), with growing export quantities also forecast for Argentina (90,000 tons, +8.2%) and Brazil (36,547 tons, +14.6%).

Regarding pears, Southern Hemisphere growers predict a slight decline in the crop (−3.3%), bringing the total to 1,446,970 tons. Argentina (616,000 tons), the largest producing country, is expected to decrease its volume by 10.9%. South Africa (551,642 tons), Chile (208,025 tons) and Australia (62,467 tons), on the other hand, are expected to increase their production by 2.9%, 3% and 4.2%, respectively. Packham’s Triumph remains the most produced variety (601,322 tons, despite a 2.7% decrease compared with 2024), followed by Williams’ bon chrétien pears (288,729 tons). Export figures are also expected to decrease from 2024, with a total of 689,155 tons (−4.4%).

The European Union production forecast, which was first published during Prognosfruit 2024, was revised to 10,388,550 tons (−9.7% from 2023) for apples and 1,792,839 tons (+5.1%) for pears. European apple stocks stood at 3,687,100 tons as of Jan. 1, 2025, which is 4.3% lower than in 2024. On the other hand, the total of 608,544 tons for European pears is 4.5% above the figures from the previous year. The U.S. apple forecast for 2024 stood at 5,376,986 tons (−2.3% from 2023), while the pear volume was updated to 390,128 tons (−21.5%). Stock figures in the United States were 3.9% lower than in 2024 for apples (2,053,915 tons) and 26% lower for pears (106,100 tons).

Finally, it was confirmed at the annual general meeting that the next edition of Prognosfruit will be held in Angers, France, on Aug. 6–8, 2025. More information about the event will soon be announced on the Prognosfruit website.

About WAPA

WAPA was founded in August 2001 with the objectives of providing a forum for discussion on matters of interest to the apple and pear business and initiating recommendations to strengthen the sector. The current president of the association is Jeff Correa (Pear Bureau Northwest, United States) and the current vice president is Nick Dicey (Hortgro, South Africa). WAPA membership includes the following countries and areas: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Scandinavia, Slovenia, South Africa, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Images: Unsplash (main image), WAPA (body images)