China plays an important role in the global pear and apple industry

The global apple trade has grown by nearly 1.5 million tons in the past decade but now stands at 9 million tons. According to FAO estimates, the current apple production is about 85 million tons, of which about 10% are traded in the international market. China's (projected) output has increased significantly while that of other countries has remained stable for a long time. At present, China's apple production (40 million tons) is almost as much as the total output of the rest of the world.

Most trade takes place among EU countries

In Apple's international trade, the EU countries dominate. Last year, EU countries accounted for 45% of Apple's international trade. In the past ten years, the EU's market share has not changed much. The largest share of EU trade has come from among EU countries. Although the EU's total exports have increased, the intra-EU trade has remained almost at the same level. As a result, the growth of exports has been realized outside the EU. In global trade, 25% of the current total trade takes place between EU countries, up from 33% a decade ago.

In recent years, the tube was affected by Russia's trade boycott, but many Apple's exports to Russia through the former Soviet republics accounted for 14% of global trade and more than 700,000 tons of trade in 2016. Once Russia begins to tighten its control over the country of origin, this trade flow will be exhausted. Finding new markets that absorb so much is not easy, but early 2017 data show that again, more Polish apples are exported to Belarus than in early 2016, but it's not certain how long this will last.

Italy found new sales market

In 2016 and early 2017, the EU countries, especially Italy, successfully sold large numbers of apples in Africa, mainly Egypt, which sold 310,000 tonnes in 2016. In addition, 180,000 tons of Italian and French apples are sold in the Gulf countries. In addition, 155,000 tons of Polish and Italian apples are sold in other European countries.

EU countries exported smaller quantities of apples to the following regions in 2016: West Asia (85,000 tons), Latin America (81,000 tons) and Southeast Asia (73,000 tons). Italy is the most important EU supplier to these regions, followed by France, followed by Spain, Greece, Poland and Belgium. Apples exported from the Netherlands or re-exported through the Netherlands are rarely shipped further. Earlier this year, India imported more apple than in previous years. In particular, it imported a lot of apples from China: its imports in the first quarter of 2017 nearly reached 80,000 tons. Other important suppliers are the United States (25,000 tons), Italy (9,000 tons), Belgium (3,800 tons) and Poland (2,600 tons).

The Netherlands lost importance

The Netherlands, as a re-exporter of apples, has been declining its position. In the last decade, the export of apples to the Netherlands has almost halved, from 118,000 tons in 2005 to 64,000 tons in 2016. Re-exports of apples in the Netherlands declined more significantly. Ten years ago, about 300,000 tons of apples were exported to other countries through the Netherlands and now do not exceed 130,000 tons.

The Netherlands is the country with the (second) largest drop in exports compared to ten years ago, a trend that has continued into recent years.

Exports from southern hemisphere countries are also declining

It is also worth noting that the volume of exports in Belgium is declining. Other countries with declining exports include Argentina, Chile and South Africa. Exporters in the southern hemisphere often sell their products in Europe through the Netherlands and Belgium, but the importance of this trade flow has been significantly reduced. At present, these southern countries are struggling to find alternative sales markets. New Zealand has been successful in this regard, with the export of apples continuing to grow. Italy and Poland are the most important exporters of apples in the world with a substantial increase in exports but due to some () partial loss of the Russian market, Poland encountered some difficulties. China, the third largest exporter, has stagnated its exports.

New Zealand apple exports have increased

Belarus and Lithuania are major growth markets for the export industry for apples, which is entirely brought about by the re-export to Russia. Other countries that have seen some increase in exports include Italy and Poland. In addition, Serbia, Turkey, Greece and New Zealand have also developed well in recent years.

Re-exports to Russia made Belarus and Lithuania the countries with the largest increases in imports, while other countries with increased imports included Egypt, Myanmar and Romania. Due to the implementation of trade boycotts, the import volume of Russia dropped sharply, and the import volume of the Netherlands was also getting lower and lower.

China is a big pear country

Pear exports also have increased globally, from 2.35 million tons a decade ago to 2.75 million today, but growth has stagnated for the last three years. About 10% of the pear output is traded internationally. Pear production in China is steadily rising, with pear output remaining steady in the rest of the world. China alone produced 18 million tonnes of pears, far exceeding the rest of the world (8 million tonnes).

Most pear trade takes place in EU countries

Pear trade pattern and Apple have many similarities, the EU countries accounted for 45% of international trade. Pear trade among EU countries is more important than apples and one third of global trade takes place within the EU. Internal trade between South Asian and East Asian countries is another important trade flow, accounting for 14% of global trade, followed by intra-Latin American trade. After that, it is the trade between one region and another region, that is, exports from the EU to Russia.

Dutch pear exports have fluctuated, but maintained at 200,000 tons or so. Imports, or re-exports, reached a record level around 2010 and then started to decline. In 2016, the Netherlands imported only 130,000 tonnes of pear while in the period 2008 and 2009 it imported some 185,000 tonnes of pear.

China's exports recovered

China is the most important pear exporter in the world, but its exports have started to decline. However, the volume of exports showed signs of recovery in the past year. Last year, China successfully exported 450,000 tons of pears, mainly to neighboring countries. In the first quarter of 2017, China's pear exports recovered to their previous level of 125,000 tons, an increase of nearly 20% from the previous year. Most pears are exported to neighboring countries.

Belgium is the world's second largest pear exporter in 2016

Argentina was the most important pear exporter in the world by 2014, but its exports have dropped sharply from about 450,000 tons to 310,000 tons in 2016. Last year, Belgium was the second largest exporter of pear in the world. Over the past three years, Belgium has exported over 300,000 tons of pears annually. Except for a few re-exports, the country mainly exports Belgian pear. Pear imports in Belgium is not large, between 50,000 to 60,000 tons. Pear exports in South Africa are good, and pears exports in Chile are also stable.

Russia is still the largest importer of pear

Despite the unfavorable trade boycott, Russia remains the most important importer of pear in the past year, despite much less imports than in previous years. Brazil ranks second, mainly from Argentina, but also from Portugal and Spain. Germany and Britain are equally stable and important importers. In the first half of this year, Russia resumed the import of pear from Argentina, South Africa and Chile.

(Source: Global Fruit and Vegetable Network) [Original Topic: China plays an Important Role in Global Pear and Apple Industry]