Outlook for Stone Fruit Production and Trade

in Selected Countries

Summary

 

Stone fruit production in selected countries in 1998 is estimated at about 13.8 million tons, 2 percent below the 1997 output. Smaller stone fruit crops in 1998 in the United States, Spain, France, Argentina, and Chile offset larger stone fruit crops in China and Italy. Peaches and nectarines account for 64 percent of total 1998 stone fruit production in selected countries. Production of plums and prunes, cherries, and apricots account for 29 percent, 4 percent, and 3 percent, respectively. World stone fruit production is primarily located in the Northern Hemisphere, with Europe and the United States combined accounting for about 75 percent of total stone fruit output.

 

Selected country stone fruit exports in 1998 are estimated at 1.3 million tons, practically unchanged from 1997 shipments. Reduced exports from the United States, Spain, Chile, and France offset a sharp increase in exports form Italy. Italy, Spain, and the United States are the leading stone fruit exporters in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, Chile is the major exporter of stone fruit. Of all selected country stone fruit exports in 1998, peach and nectarine shipments comprise more than a 70 percent share of volume, followed by plums and prunes at 17 percent, and cherries and apricots at 5 percent each.

 

Selected country imports of stone fruit in 1998 are estimated at 406,850 tons, down 10 percent from 1997, due to smaller global supplies. France, the United States, Italy, and Brazil are major buyers, accounting for more than 60 percent of selected country imports of stone fruit in 1998. Peaches and nectarines account for more than 50 percent of all stone fruit imported annually. Imports of stone fruit by the United States average about 70,000 tons annually, less than one-half the volume of exports. Chile, the dominant supplier to the United States, provided 98 percent of all U.S. stone fruit imports in 1998, by volume, and were valued at $53 million.

 

Peaches and Nectarines

 

China, Italy, and the United States are the major peach and nectarine producing countries, accounting for 65 percent of selected country total output in 1998. Other important producing countries include Spain, Greece, France, and Argentina. In the United States, production of peaches and nectarines in 1998 is estimated at 1.3 million tons, down from 1.4 million tons in 1997. U.S. production normally consists of about 55 percent freestone peaches, 30 percent clingstone peaches, and 15 percent nectarines. California leads the U.S. peach and nectarine production with more than 70 percent of the peach crop and more than 90 percent of the nectarine crop. South Carolina and Georgia follow California’s 70 percent share of peach production, accounting for about 6 and 4 percent of the U.S. total, respectively. South Carolina and Georgia typically market their peaches from May through August while California’s season runs June through September.

 

Selected country exports of peaches and nectarines in 1998 are estimated at 952,100 tons, up 13 percent from 1997, due mainly to a sharp increase on Italian exports. Germany remains the major market for Italian peach and nectarine exports. Moreover, peaches and nectarines exported by Italy are shipped almost solely to other EU member countries. On the other hand, U.S. shipments of peaches and nectarines in 1998 fell almost 25 percent from 1997 record shipments of 104,691 tons. A smaller U.S. crop and the related increase in prices slowed U.S. peach and nectarine exports in 1998 to major markets (Canada, Taiwan, and Mexico). Moreover, U.S. shipments to Asia in 1998 were adversely affected by the economic problems facing that region. About half the volume of U.S. peach and nectarine exports go to Canada. Taiwan’s share of U.S. peach and nectarine exports has increased from just 3 percent in 1990 to more than 20 percent in 1998.

 

Imports of stone fruit by the United States average about 70,000 tons annually, less than one-half the volume of exports. Chile, the dominant supplier to the United States, provided 98 percent of all U.S. stone fruit imports in 1998. Peaches and plums are the leading commodities imported from Chile. More than half of Chile’s peach and nectarine exports are bound for the United States, influenced mainly by proximity of the market and the counter-seasonal nature of Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere fruit production. Over 90 percent of the total volume of U.S peach and nectarine imports enter the U.S. market from December through March. Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and South Africa supply the balance of stone fruit imported from abroad. Small volumes are also sourced from countries in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

 

Plums and Prunes

 

Plums and prunes account for about 30 percent of selected country stone fruit output. China, the United States, and France account for most of the selected countries’ plum and prune crops. In 1998, selected country plums and prune production is estimated at 4 million tons, down 9 percent from the 1997 output, due largely to reduced production in the United States. U.S. plum and prune production in 1998 is estimated at 486,796 tons, down sharply from the 832,071 tons produced in 1997. Adverse spring weather in many producing states, including severe hail in California, reduced overall U.S. output in 1998.

 

Selected country exports of plums and prunes in 1998 are estimated at 215,589 tons, down sharply from 1997 shipments. Reduced shipments from all major exporting countries in the Northern Hemisphere (the United States and Spain), as well as in the Southern Hemisphere (Chile and South Africa), hampered overall exports of plums and prunes in 1998. The United States, Spain, Chile and South Africa normally account for more than 80 percent of selected country annual plums and prune shipments.

 

Cherries

 

Selected country cherry production in 1998 is estimated at 585,855 tons, about the same as the previous year’s output. The United States is the leading cherry producing country, accounting for about 60 percent of selected country output in 1998. U.S. cherry production in 1998 is estimated at 348,405 tons, up slightly from 1997. Sweet cherries comprise about 55 percent of total U.S. cherry output and sour cherries account for the remaining 45 percent. Sweet cherry production in the United States is concentrated in the states of Washington, Oregon, Michigan, and California, in that order. Michigan produces the bulk of the U.S. sour cherry crop.

 

Cherry exports from selected countries in 1998 are estimated to have decreased almost 20 percent to 60, 403 tons, the lowest level in the last 4 years. U.S. cherry exports in 1998 totaled 37,983 tons, down 5 percent from 1997 shipments. The economic problems facing countries in Asia, combined with the stronger U.S. dollar, hampered U.S. cherry exports in 1998 to countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. U.S. fresh cherry sales in 1998 to Japan, the dominant market for U.S. cherries, reached 9,432 tons, valued at $48 million.

 

Apricots

 

Apricot production in selected countries in 1998 is estimated at 429,225 tons, down almost 20 percent from the 1997 output. Decreased production prospects in France, the major apricot producer, and the United States, offset a larger harvest in Italy. A late frost in the spring affected the French 1998 apricot crop, which is estimated to have decreased more than 50 percent to 71,400 tons. U.S. apricot production in 1998 is estimated at 107,320 tons, down 15 percent from 1997.

 

Apricot trade from selected countries in 1998 is estimated at 50,362 tons, compared with 90,031 tons shipped in 1997. This drastic reduction reflects a sharp decrease in French shipments, the major exporting country. France’s apricot exports in 1998 are estimated at 23,500 tons, less than half the amount exported in 1997. The decrease is explained by the low production. France’s major export markets are other EU member countries, such as Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

 

(For further information on supply, distribution, and trade, contact Samuel Rosa at (202) 720-6086. For information on marketing, contact Sonia Jimenez at 202-720-0898)

Last modified: Thursday, April 06, 2000