Canned Deciduous Fruit Situation for Selected Countries

World Canned Peach Situation

 

World production of canned peaches for the 1999/2000 crop year is estimated at 1,242,616 tons. Production for the Northern Hemisphere for the 1999/2000 marketing year is placed at 1,017,469 tons, up 20 percent from last year’s level. The Southern Hemisphere’s 1999/2000 canned peach production is estimated at 225,147 tons, down 8 percent.

 

EU canned peach production for marketing year 1999/2000 is set at a record 649,300 tons, up 35 percent from last year due to strong Greek production. Greece accounts for 65 percent of EU production. In 1999 Greece produced 668,000 tons of fresh clingstone peaches and 305,000 tons of fresh freestone peaches compared to 272,000 and 139,000 tons, respectively in 1998. The quantity of peaches withdrawn this past season totaled 212,000 tons compared to 2,500 tons in 1998. Under EU regulations, the maximum allowable withdrawal quantity of peaches may not exceed 40 percent of the total marketed for fresh and processing, which would equal 274,000 tons for Greece in 1999.

 

The Italian canned peach production was almost double that of last year, reaching 41,000 tons, which is the highest output in the last six years. Ideal weather conditions led to the bumper crop. Due to the large crop, Italy sold 143,000 tons of peaches and nectarines into withdrawal, up from 12,500 tons in 1998 and 24,000 tons in 1997.

 

Exports from EU countries are estimated at 479,000 tons up 28 percent from last year. EU exports will account for 78 percent of total world exports compared to 70 percent in 1998/99. Exports from the Southern Hemisphere are estimate to be down 11 percent from the previous year due to an 8 percent drop in production.

 

The principal reason for the decline in Southern Hemisphere output is due to Chile’s return to a more normal production level following last year’s extraordinary record of 50,000 tons. This year estimated production of 36,000 tons is only 2,000 tons under the ten-year-average.

 

Chile’s total exports of canned peaches in marketing year 1998/99 were much larger than previously expected, due to strong demand by Mexico in late 1999. Mexico turned to Chile’s lower priced product to fill a demand left open by reduced EU supplies. However, due to renewed EU production, Chile expects significantly weaker demand for its exports, due lower prices offered by EU competition.

 

South Africa’s production of canned peaches for Marketing Year (MY) 1999/2000 is estimated at 82,307 tons, a decrease of 7 percent from the previous years level, but 2,000 tons over the ten year average. The decline is due to unfavorable weather conditions.

 

As of January 200,0 South Africa will receive a gross weight tariff rate quota of 58,000 tons of canned fruit shipped into the EU. EU duties on canned fruit, which currently range between 17 and 24 percent, will be reduced by 50 percent for the quota amount. Currently, South Africa ships about two thirds of its canned fruit exports, or about 110,000 metric tons of canned fruit into the EU. South Africa accounts for about 85 percent of EU canned peach, 50 percent of canned pear, 55 percent of canned fruit mixtures, and 50 percent of canned apricots imports from third countries.

 

Canned Pears

 

World canned pear production for 1999/2000 is estimated at 156,201 tons, down 22 percent from the previous year. Exports are forecast to be down 6 percent to 94,375 tons, which will be among the lowest world exports in the last ten years. EU production is set at 98,400 tons equal to its ten-year- average but down 25 percent from last year’s record of 125,878 tons. Production in the Southern Hemisphere is estimated at 57,101 tons, down 16 percent from 1998/99.

 

U.S. Canned Fruit Exports

 

Exports are an integral part of the California canned cling peaches, fruit cocktail and U.S. Bartlett pears industry’s overall economic health. U.S. canned fruit exports are forecast to reach 45,000 tons in 1999/2000. With more than adequate supply expected through the end of the year for canned fruit, market promotion efforts under the Market Access Program (MAP) are vital to help the U.S. canned fruit industry compete against low cost heavily subsidized product from countries such as Greece. In MY 1999, the California Cling Peach Growers Advisory Board plans to use MAP funds in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Mexico to educate and convince trade and consumers of the quality, nutritional value, and convenience of U.S. canned fruit.

 

(The FAS Attache Report search engine contains reports on the canned fruit industry for more than 8 countries, including Greece, South Africa, and Chile. For further information on production and trade contact Robert Knapp 202-720-4620. For information on U.S. marketing opportunities, contact Kristin Kezar at 202-690-0556.)

Last modified: Thursday, April 06, 2000