Brazil’s leading apple exporter, Fischer Fraiburgo, is preparing for a significant rise in shipments to Europe in 2015. Commercial manager Wilson Passos told Fruitnet that the devaluation of the real had made the domestic market less attractive than in recent years.
“We expect exports to rise by around 50 per cent on the three-year average, but our goal is not just to increase volumes but to offer the best quality compared to what the market is offering,” he said.
The company is forecasting a crop of 120,000 tonnes, similar to 2014 levels, and the outlook in terms of quality is good Passos said. In terms of sizes, counts 120-135 represent the largest volume, followed by sizes 100-110. Harvesting will get underway in mid-January with Maxi-Galas and Royal Galas, followed by Supreme Fujis.
Passos noted that high Northern Hemisphere stocks and an increase in supplies of Polish apples would present challenges for South American shippers.
In spite of Russia’s economic problems, Fischer is seeking to return to this market, taking advantage of the ban on EU agricultural products, Passos said. Elsewhere, the company is looking to further develop markets in Asia and the Middle East including Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
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