Apple production in selected countries in marketing year 2000/01 is forecast at a record 48.0 million tons, up 4 percent from the 1999/2000 output. The increase mainly reflects continued growth in China’s apple production, which is expected to increase 6 percent in 2000/01 to 22 million tons. Larger apple crops in 2000/01 are also expected in some other major producing countries of the Northern Hemisphere, such as Germany and Russia. Moreover, apple production is forecast to bounce back strongly in Argentina and Chile, the two top producers in the Southern Hemisphere. On the other hand, U.S. apple production in 2000/01 will likely remain at the 1999/2000 level. Selected countries apple exports in 2000/01 are forecast at a record 4.8 million tons, up 7 percent from 1999/2000 shipments. Larger exportable supplies are anticipated in China, the United States, and Chile, which combined account for about a third of selected country exports. The U.S. 2000/01 apple export forecast has been revised up to 670,000 tons, up 12 percent from the previous forecast and 25 percent above last season’s shipments. A larger apple crop in Washington state, lower prices, and continued improvement in Asian economies are boosting U.S. apple exports this season.

Total apple production in selected Northern Hemisphere countries in 2000/01 is forecast at 43.4 million metric tons, up 3 percent from the previous year's crop. The increase mainly reflects continued growth in China's apple production and in some major producing countries of the European Union (EU), such as Germany. U.S. apple production in 2000/01 is now forecast at 4.8 million tons, unchanged from the 1999/2000 crop.

China's apple production in 2000/01 is forecast to increase 6 percent to more than 22 million tons. Favorable weather, combined with the continuing maturation of planted trees, is expected to boost China's apple crop in 2000/01. Apple production in China has increased more than 700 percent in the last 20 years and now accounts for more than 45 percent of selected countries apple production. The major varieties grown in China are Fuji (45 percent of production), New Red Star (12 percent), Qinguan (10 percent), and Guoguang (10 percent). Between 5 percent and 7 percent of China's apple crop is processed by the juice industry. The Qinguan variety is the most popular among China's apple juice concentrate producers.

Apple production in selected EU countries in 2000/01 is forecast at 9.1 million tons, up 2 percent from last season. Germany, accounting for more than a quarter of the EU 2000/01 apple production forecast, has become the largest EU producer, surpassing Italy for the first time. Favorable growing conditions in the summer of 2000 have resulted in a record German apple crop of 2.5 million tons, up nearly 30 percent from the 1999/2000 output. On other hand, apple production in Italy and France in 2000/01 is forecast at 2.2 million tons and 2.1 million tons, respectively. Germany, Italy, France, and Spain account for the bulk of the EU's apple crop. Golden delicious, Jonagold, Red delicious, and Gala are the major apple varieties produced, in that order. New varieties, such as Braeburn and Fuji, are making inroads in Europe in response to consumers' changes in preferences.

Apple production in the United States in 2000/01 is forecast at 4.8 million tons, practically unchanged from production in 1999/2000 and 8 percent below the record 1998/99 crop. However, apple production in Washington, the main producing state, is forecast to increase 14 percent in 2000/01 to 2.6 million tons. Favorable weather is expected to boost Washington's apple crop this season and, as such, will likely account for more than half the 2000/01 U.S. apple crop. On the other hand, apple production in New York and Michigan, the second and third largest apple producing states, is expected to decrease 17 percent and 29 percent, respectively. In general, apple production in the eastern states is forecast down in 2000/01.

Apple exports from selected countries in the Northern Hemisphere in 2000/01 are forecast at a record 3.5 million tons, up 5 percent from last season's shipments. Increased export prospects are anticipated from the United States, China, and from some countries of the EU, such as Germany. U.S., China's, and EU's apple shipments in 2000/01 are forecast to increase 25 percent, 6 percent, and 4 percent, respectively.

U.S. apple exports in 2000/01 are now forecast at 670,000 tons, 25 percent more than shipments last season, based on strong shipments from the period July-December 2000, which are up 40 percent from the same period in 1999. A larger apple crop in Washington state and related lower prices, combined with the continued stabilization of the economies of certain key importing Asian markets are boosting U.S. apple exports in 2000/01, mainly from the Pacific Northwest. Sales to Mexico, the U.S. largest market, are up more than 40 percent in the period July-December 2000. Shipments to Taiwan, the second largest market, are ahead almost 30 percent during this same period. Exports to other key Asian destinations have posted gains in the period July-December 2000, notably Hong Kong (up 136 percent), Indonesia (up 44 percent), Malaysia (up 80 percent), and Thailand (up 38 percent). Good quality fruit and lower prices are also spurring exports to Latin America and the Middle East. Moreover, U.S. apple shipments to the Dominican Republic this season are in part benefitting from a cut in the import tariff. On average, about 40 percent of U.S. annual apple exports are destined to Latin America, about 35 percent to Asia, and 5 percent each go to the Middle East and Europe. Canada alone accounts for about 15 percent of U.S. annual apple shipments.

China's apple exports in 2000/01 are forecast at 285,000 tons, up 6 percent from 1999/2000 shipments. Fruit quality in China continues to improve, and, as such, expansion of its export markets, especially to neighboring Asian countries (especially Vietnam and the Philippines) and Russia. Reportedly, the Fuji variety accounts for about 80 percent of China's apple exports. China also exports the Guoguang apple variety, which is mainly directed to the Russian market.

Apple exports from selected EU countries in 2000/01 are forecast at 2.3 million tons, up 4 percent from shipments in 1999/2000, mainly reflecting larger exportable supplies in Germany. German apple exports are forecast to increase 10 percent to 75,000 tons. Denmark and other EU countries account for the bulk of Germany's apple sales. During recent years, the German fruit industry has increased its marketing efforts in the Central and Eastern European markets, mainly Russia. These markets are reportedly growing slowly.

Apple production in selected countries of the Southern Hemisphere in 2000/01 is forecast at 4.6 million tons, up 12 percent from last season's reduced output. Strong production recoveries are expected in the principal southern producing countries of Argentina and Chile.

Argentine apple production in 2000/01 is forecast at 1.4 million tons, 44 percent above the 1999/2000 weather-reduced crop, due to more favorable climatic conditions. In Argentina, larger apple producers are relatively few in numbers with the small and medium growers producing the bulk of the fruit. Last season, many growers replanted orchards with higher yielding varieties such as Pink Lady, Jonagold, and Pacific Rose. Argentina's commercial apple production is located in Rio Negro (75 percent), Neuquen (15 percent), and Mendoza (10 percent).

Chilean apple production in 2000/01 is forecast to rebound to 1.0 million tons, 32 percent above the 1999/2000 reduced crop. Excellent weather during blooming, with sufficient precipitation and mild temperatures during most of the growing season, have improved Chilean production prospects in 2000/01. Chilean apple producers continue to diversify their orchards by planting new and more popular varieties such as Fuji, Gala, Jonathan, and Braeburn. However, Red apple varieties still account for about 70 percent of total output and are mainly for the European and Middle East markets. The principal green variety, Granny Smith, is used both for the fresh export market (mainly Europe and the United States) as well as for concentrated apple juice production.

Apple exports from selected countries in the Southern Hemisphere in 2000/01 are forecast at 1.4 million tons, 12 percent above last season's shipments. The largest apple exporter in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile, is expected to increase exports this season. On the other hand, shipments from New Zealand, the second largest exporter in the Southern Hemisphere, is expected to decrease.

Chile's apple exports in 2000/01 are forecast at 520,000 tons, up 25 percent from last season. A larger apple crop and related larger exportable supplies will likely improve Chile's apple exports in 2000/01. However, devaluation of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar has made the European market totally unattractive to Chilean apple exporters. As such, Chilean apple shipments this season will likely be diverted to new markets or other non-European markets, such as the United States. Nearly 80 percent of Chile's apple exports are destined to the European and U.S. markets. Red apple varieties account for about two thirds of Chile's apple sales overseas, although the share of sweet varieties, such as Fuji, is increasing.

New Zealand's apple exports in 2000/01 are forecast at 315,000 tons, down 12 percent from shipments in 1999/2000, due mainly to lower exportable supplies. Reportedly, approximately 1,000 hectares of apple trees were ripped out of the ground in 2000, due to the lack of profitability in the industry. These were predominantly in the Hawkes Bay region, the largest apple growing region in New Zealand. Braeburn represents about 60 percent of total New Zealand apple production and 40 percent of its total apple exports. The United States, Canada, and the EU are New Zealand's major apple customers.

(For information on production and trade, contact Samuel Rosa at 202-720-6086. For information on marketing, contact Sonia Jimenez at 202-690-6057. The FAS Attache Report search engine contains reports on deciduous fruit for more than 20 countries. Also, visit our apple webpage at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/htp/horticulture/apples/html)



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