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Snippets from the "Global Fruit Market Report" and "Revista del Compo" supplement to El Mercurio, the national daily newspaper in Chile.
Export apple production out of Chile is expected to be 30 million cartons this year, an increase of 8.7 million cartons on last year. Royal Gala volumes are expected to be up 3.5 million cartons on last year, and 2.5 million cartons on their 1998 crop. Braeburn volumes are expected to increase by 1.2 million cartons.
European apple stocks on 1 February were 2.519 million metric tonnes, down 7 % on the previous season. This is about 10.5 million cartons less than last season.
Among varieties, Braeburn is down 7 % at just over 4 million cartons, a decrease of about 314,000 cartons. Gala, including Royal Gala, almost 3.2 million cartons, an increase of 49 %, or just over a million more than last year.
Only 1.1 million cartons of Cox are in stock, compared with almost 2 million cartons last year. This is the lowest supply of Cox Orange in the last 9 years. Cox prices are reported to be very strong as a result of the low amount in stock. Granny Smith stocks are 21 % higher than last year at 6.7 million cartons, an increase of approximately 1.2 million cartons. Fuji are 5 % down at just under 1.45 million cartons.
The Argentinian apple crop this year is reported to be almost 1.4 million metric tonnes up from about 0.79 million metric tonnes last year. Pears are also up, with a total increase in apples and pears of 58 % over last season.
US apple holdings on February 23rd are reported to be up 16 % on last year at 53.6 million cartons. Half of these are Red Delicious. There are also 5 million cartons of Granny Smith, and 7.2 million cartons of Fuji. No data is available on Royal Gala or Braeburn, but they would be included with other varieties which stand at 6.4 million cartons.
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