Apples, record exports. Harvest slightly down and household consumption holding up
According to Ismea, the first phase of the 2024/25 marketing year was characterised by stable year-on-year quotations at origin, but an increase compared to the average prices of the last three years
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Harvests limiting losses compared to European competitors and prices holding up, as well as retail consumption despite higher prices. And an excellent performance on the export front. This is the picture of the 2024 apple campaign drawn by the latest Ismea Mercati report.
European apple production in 2024 is expected to be around 10.2 million tonnes, 11% less than in 2023 and 14% lower than the average production in the period 2021-2023. Italy has been less affected than average: net of the balance of late varieties not yet received, Ismea reports that in August 2024 the estimates of Assomela and Cso quantified the Italian production at about 2.16 million tonnes, slightly down on 2023 (-0.6%).
At a regional level a drop in the harvest is expected in the provinces of Bolzano (-9%) and Trento (-7%), while in the other regions production is expected to be higher than last year. In particular, Piedmont (+8%), Veneto (+33%) and Emilia-Romagna (+15%). The varietal breakdown of the 2024 harvest shows that about half is Golden delicious (-11%) and Gala (-8%).
The first phase of the 2024/25 marketing year was characterised by prices at origin stable on an annual basis but increasing compared to the average prices of the last three years. "In fact, in the month of December, ex-packer's warehouse prices for all the main varieties and squares," reads the report, "showed substantial stability compared to the same period of the previous marketing year. However, it should be noted that "the overall trend is the result of opposite trends at the level of individual gauges: on an annual basis, in fact, slight price increases were recorded for smaller gauges and slight decreases for larger gauges".
As far as consumption is concerned, the data on retail purchases of apples from August 2023 to July 2024 show a slight reduction in purchases (-0.7%) on an annual basis, possibly also due to the increase in prices: household expenditure rose by about 7%.
On the export front, the 2023/24 marketing year closed with a record balance of trade that came close to EUR 1 billion thanks to the export of around 875 million kg of apples. "Compared to the previous campaign," Ismea explains, "the balance increased by 14%, a result attributable to both the increase in volumes shipped (+2.8%) and the increase in the average price of exported apples (+11%).
