Unfavourable marketing conditions have led to an estimated 15 per cent decrease in Brazilian apple exports to Europe this season, despite a slight increase in production, according to initial data from the Brazilian Apple Producers’ Association (ABPM).
“Brazilian apple exports to Europe were down by 15 per cent as of the end of May, against the same period last year,” ABPM chairman Pierre Pérès told Fruitnet.com. “The reduction in volume was due to higher European apple stocks and lower prices on the market, as well as the excessive strength of the Brazilian real. The Brazilian internal market also proved strong with stable and good prices which attracted many suppliers away from the export market this season.”
The Dutch consignment selling system has also been blamed in part for the low returns achieved for Brazilian apples in Europe this season.
“ABPM doesn’t believe that one country or another is responsible for the low prices, but yes the commercial system used in the Netherlands (where some importers encourage large shipments that are paid for according to their ability to place the fruit in the market) has been part of the problem,” Mr Pérès explained. “One of the reasons for the low prices (in France in particular) is certainly growers’ credulity in trusting some Dutch importers.”
Surprisingly, Brazilian apple exports to the Netherlands rose by 34 per cent in 2009, according to ABPM, while other markets in the region received less volume in general.
Brazil’s 2008/09 apple harvest ended in May, with picking of the Fuji crop coming to a close in week 20, followed by the Cripps Pink harvest during week 22. Quality of Brazil’s Fuji apples was superior to last year with a final brix of 16o, ABPM said.
ABPM is still compiling crop data, but current figures point towards a 3 per cent rise in 2009 Brazilian apple production compared with last year’s 900,418-tonne total. The estimate is slightly lower than the 4 per cent increase originally forecast for the 2009 crop.
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