The value of New Zealand’s pipfruit sector continues to rise on the back of an increased focus on Asian markets, according to figures released by Pipfruit New Zealand.
The peak industry body forecasts that the total FOB value of the 2015 export crop will hit NZ$630m, an 84 per cent increase on the 2012 figure of NZ$341m.
Export volumes have already surpassed the 332,000 tonne mark for the 2015 season, up on the previous estimate of 303,000 tonnes. Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Alan Pollard said the early-season estimate had factored in expected crop losses from hail damage across a number of growing regions.
“I acknowledge that for some of our growers the hail was devastating and they suffered substantial losses,” Pollard explained. “But on average across the regions, the impact of hail was significantly less than expected.”
Asian markets have absorbed 40 per cent of the 2015 crop, up from 32 per cent last season. Shipments to Europe and the UK have made up 21 per cent and 15 per cent of total sales respectively, while North America has taken 12 per cent of the export crop, down from 16 per cent last year.
The UK remains the industry’s largest country market, taking 48,069 tonnes so far this season, followed by the US (33,254), the Netherlands (29,584) and Thailand (29,369).
Royal Gala continues to be the most commonly exported apple from New Zealand, with an estimated 115,598 tonnes shipped this year, up from 100,272 tonnes last season. Shipments of Pacific Queen leapt from 9,983 in 2014 to 15,763 this year, while Braeburn exports declined from 67,000 in 2014 to 60,105 tonnes.
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