Australia: Stone Fruit Annual
Cherry production for 2015-16 is forecast to recover to 16,000 metric tonnes, following a decline in 2014/15 due to adverse seasonal conditions. New export markets have opened up for Australian cherry exports, such as South Korea, and new plantings have been made in response. Exports of cherries are likely to reach 6,000 tonnes in 2015/16. Production of peaches and nectarines has fallen to around 90,000 tonnes. The closure of a number of export markets and diminished demand for canned fruit has caused an oversupply of these fruit on the domestic market. Counter seasonal stone fruit imports from the United States entered the Australian market in July 2013 and exceeded 4,500 tonnes.
