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Apple Juice Production and Trade in Selected Countries
Production of apple juice (AJ) in selected countries in 2001/02 is estimated at nearly 880,000 metric tons (70/71 degrees brix equivalent), 10 percent below the previous season’s output. The downturn reflects decreased production in the main Northern Hemisphere producing countries, including Germany, Italy, Hungary, and the United States. Production of AJ in Argentina and Chile, the major producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere, is also forecast to decrease in the 2001/02 season. AJ production in China, the world largest producer, in 2001/02 is forecast to increase 16 percent to 200,000 tons. Exports of AJ from selected countries in 2001/02 are estimated at 754,000 tons, 2 percent below last season’s shipments. U.S. AJ exports are expected to continue to decline in 2001/02, mainly due to lower production and increased domestic demand. These factors, on the other hand, are expected to boost U.S. AJ imports in 2001/02 to a record 285,000 tons, 26 percent more than imports in 2000/01. U.S. imports of AJ have increased steadily since the 1998/99 season, driven by decreased production, increased world supplies of lower-priced product, and increased demand as an ingredient in the juice, soft drink, and snacks processing industries. |
China,
the world’s largest producer of AJ, continues to expand exports in 2001/02
In
marketing year (MY) 2001/02, China will likely surpass Poland and become the
world’s largest AJ producer. China’s
AJ production in 2001/02 is estimated at 200,000 tons (70/71 degrees brix),
up 16 percent from the 2000/01 output, and slightly over
Poland’s estimated 190,000-ton output.
In recent years, AJ production in China has been driven by increased
export demand. Moreover, China
can supply AJ at relatively lower prices than its competitors.
Concentrated not-frozen AJ continues to be the main processed apple
product in China.
Shandong
province is China’s major AJ-producing region.
AJ production in Shandong province last season was estimated at
66,000 tons, nearly 40 percent of China’s 2000/01 total AJ output.
Much of the production of AJ in Shandong originates from 6 or 7
companies or processing plants. In
the past, there were many processing plants in Shandong province.
However, the number of AJ factories is believed to be decreasing, due
to continued low world prices. Reportedly,
less than 20 factories are now in operation within Shandong province, but
only 6 or 7 are capable of large-scale production.
Some
in the AJ industry are very concerned about the low quality of China’s AJ.
Moreover, some believe that the quality of the product will not
improve until processors switch to higher quality fruit.
Apple growers generally sell their poorer quality fruit to AJ
processors at low prices. Higher
quality fruit is sold at much higher prices to the fresh consumption market.
Most of China’s AJ is exported. China’s exports of AJ in 2001/02 are forecast at more than 177,000 tons, up 15 percent from shipments in 2000/01. The main export destinations are expected to remain the United States and some countries in the EU. China exports low acid AJ, which is blended with high acid juice by the food and beverage industries in many importing countries.
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The United States will remain a strong
consumer of imported AJ
U.S. AJ production is
expected to continue its downturn trend.
Output in 2001/02 in the United Sates is estimated to decrease for
the third consecutive season to 135,500 tons, down 9 percent from 2000/01
and the lowest level since 1997/98. Reduced
supplies of processing apples and less attractive prices for processing
fruit are expected to hamper overall U.S. AJ production in 2001/02.
The amount of processing apples in 2001/02 in the United States is
expected to decline 9 percent to 998,000 tons.U.S. import demand for AJ is
expected to continue its upward trend, as well as remaining a net importer. U.S. AJ imports in 2001/02 are estimated at a record 285,000
tons, up 26 percent from 2000/01. U.S.
import demand for mostly concentrated non-frozen AJ, totaled more than
176,000 tons, 70/71 degrees brix equivalent, for the period July 2001
through February 2002, up 30 percent from the same period last season.
The increase reflects increased imports from Argentina, Chile, and China. A rebound in import demand for the Chinese product has revived the U.S. industry’s concern about China’s AJ marketing strategy in the United States. Argentina, Chile, and China, are the major suppliers of AJ to the U.S. market. The Chinese product, however, is, on average, entering the United States at the lowest price. In response to industry complaints about the surge of low-priced AJ from China, on May 15, 2000, the United States imposed antidumping duties on certain suppliers of Chinese non-frozen AJ concentrate. The duties assessed range from 9 percent to 52 percent. However, these punitive duties have not reduced the volume of AJ entering the United States from China. The dumping duties will be in effect at least until 2005.
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(The FAS Attaché Report search engine contains reports on the apple juice industry for more than 10 countries. For further information on supply, distribution, and trade, contact Samuel Rosa at (202) 720-6086).
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