September 07

September 2007, World Apple Report Highlights

Asia 10 Years After the Crisis
The Asian financial crisis hit Thailand in July 1997 and its effects spread across much of East Asia. The crisis ended a 20-year period of remarkable growth in both Northeast and Southeast Asia that had boosted global demand for fresh apples, fresh pears and many other products. Ten years later, these economies have mostly regained the ground lost after 1997 and have again resumed growth, although at a much slower pace than in the glory days. Fruit imports have also surpassed previous peak levels. However, Southeast Asian countries have increasingly substituted lower-cost Chinese fruit for supplies from other regions. China's influence on Northeast Asian fruit imports remains weak due to political and phytosanitary obstacles.

Joys of Summer
The summer of 2007 has been one of the best for the apple industry in many years. Northern Hemisphere apple stocks have been depleted rapidly while Southern Hemisphere supplies have been nicely balanced. As a result, prices for most varieties and suppliers have had a modest mid-season decline and a strong late-season recovery. New Zealand and Brazil have benefited most from higher prices, while newer varieties like Royal Gala, Braeburn and Fiji have retained their premiums over Red Delicious and Granny Smith.

Strategies for Global Warming
Fruit growers in the Southern Hemisphere have become serious about developing strategies to sustain their business should global warming become a reality. This article reviews a number of papers from Australia and South Africa that looked at possible effects of global warming and possible responses that might be taken by individual growers, the fruit industry as a whole, and government. Since any changes due to global warming are expected to be gradual, the authors believe that the fruit industry will have time to adapt They argue that the challenges of global warming need to be tackled in the same systematic way as the fruit industry tackles its other challenges.

Special Statistics

East Asia: index of per Capita GNP in US Dollars (chart).
East Asia: Imports of Fresh Apples and Fresh Pears, 1995-2005 (table).
Rotterdam Wholesale Market: Season Average Prices, by Variety and Size, 2007 Season (table)
Southeast Asia: Share of Fresh Apple Imports, China, United States and All Other Suppliers,
1995-2005 (percent) (table).
EU-15: Trends in Newer Apple Varieties 1988-2007 (chart).
China: Fresh Apple Exports Continue to Soar (chart).

The authoritative guide to the world apple business today.

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