Posts Tagged “New Zealand apple exports”
The USDA is reporting New Zealand apple exports in 2024-25 are projected at 380,000 metric tons, up 40,000 metric tons from 2023-24 exports.
“If realized, this would be the highest exports since 2019-20, and the third-most volume of apple exports in a year,” the report said.
The harvest season in New Zealand starts in January and finishes in June, with peak harvest for apples from March to May.
The USDA said New Zealand’s export priorities will likely focus on Vietnam, China, the U.S. and the United Kingdom in the foreseeable future. India also is projected to be a growing market for New Zealand exporters, the report said.
U.S. imports of New Zealand apples in 2024 were valued at $44.9 million, down from $69.2 million in 2023, according to USDA trade numbers.
Royal gala was the most significant variety for export from New Zealand in 2023-24, however, the USDA said increased export demand for varieties such as Envy, Dazzle, and the new variety Rockit has resulted in increased unit pricing per metric ton.
“Commentary from growers is that with the current replacement of damaged orchards and increasing interest rates, farm gate returns will be a substantial factor in the selection of future varieties,” the report said. “As a result, the industry already sees diminishing hectares for varieties such as Braeburn, which in 2011-12 accounted for 22% of national hectares and in 2023-24 was just 6%.”
Growers in New Zealand are replacing apple trees lost to Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.
“The cyclone caused considerable damage due to large-scale floodwaters, silt, debris, wind, and surface flooding in the primary apple-growing regions of Hawkes Bay and Gisborne,” the USDA said.
New Zealand’s apple planted area in the 2024-25 market year is forecast to increase substantially to 27,181 acres, up from 22,700 acres last season. Apple area expected to be harvested is estimated at 25,833 acres, up from about 22,000 acres in 2022-23.
“Although the recovery from the Cyclone damage is underway, on-farm inflation and debt servicing continue to put cost pressure on the growth of the industry,” the report said.
A 12 percent increase in volume for New Zealand Apples and Pears (NZAPI) is forecast this year over the 2022, a rebound from 2023, which suffered significant damage due to Cyclone Gabrielle.
The publication Fuitnet estimates exports will total 21.2 million boxes (18 kg tray equivalent), 382,000 tons. Excellent size, color, eating, and flavor are expected.
Fuitnet also is projecting a higher dry matter content, allowing for better storage of the fruit.
New Zealand apple exports will be off about 14 percent from a year ago despite earlier expectations of a near-record season, according to a
USDA forecast.
“…a number of factors have tempered expectations,” the report noted, with production now estimated to have slumped 8 percent from the previous year to 543,000 metric tons (MT).
Two of these factors have been hailstorms causing widespread damage in key apple areas, as well as generally smaller-sized apples this year due to a cooler summer.
In addition to reduced production, the impact on exports is being exacerbated by severe staffing shortages during the harvest. New Zealand’s Covid-19 response included limiting slots available for short-term foreign workers in mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival, and international border closures.
Because of these shortages, orchardists were not able to do the number of harvest picks in each orchard block necessary to maximize the proportion of export quality fruit. Consequently, while all the apples are still expected to eventually be harvested there will be a greater volume destined for processing.
This is expected to reduce exports by 14 percent from 2020, down to 345,000MT in 2021, the USDA report said.
The volume of apples being processed in 2020/2021 is estimated to increase by seven percent to reach 125,000MT