The Chilean apple and pear season is expected to get off to a slow start in Europe and North America, according to the latest update from Decofrut.
Average FOT prices for both apples and pears are down on 2009, while stocks are higher as of 1 February, the Chilean analyst said.
“This indicates that demand is lower than supply as concerns during the economic crisis remain among many consumers despite the majority of countries now emerging from the recession,” Decofrut chairman Manuel José Alcaíno told Fruitnet.com.
With exports competing with an abundant local supply, Decofrut expects the early stages of the season to come under intense pressure, with depressed prices.
According to SimFRUIT estimates, Chile’s 2010 apple exports are set to rise by 11 per cent to 748,266 tonnes, up from 674,931 tonnes last year, partly due to a mild spring season as well as an important number of new orchards entering full production.
Pear exports, meanwhile, will maintain a volume similar to last season, with just a slight growth of 0.4 per cent to roughly 127,175 tonnes, compared with 126,688 tonnes in 2009, according to SimFRUIT.
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