Australia: Stone Fruit Annual
Post forecasts Australian cherry production to rebound to 16,000 metric tons in 2017/18, after adverse seasonal conditions sharply reduced output to 10,000 MT in 2016/17. Exports are expected to recover to 5,000 MT in 2017/18 after contracting to 2,500 MT in 2016/17. Production of peaches and nectarines is forecast to increase slightly to 92,000 MT in 2017/18 after similarly poor seasonal conditions the previous year. Exports of peaches and nectarines are forecast by Post at 12,000 MT in 2017/18, up from 9,000 MT in 2016/17. Counter-seasonal stone fruit imports, mainly from the United States, are forecast at 3,000 MT in 2017/18, revised down from the previous year, partly due to low prices in the Australian domestic market.
