Posts Tagged “U.S. apple exports”
U.S. apple exports to Mexico had a big increase the during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same time frame a year ago, according to the latest data from the USDA.
Mexico accounts for 35% of the total share of U.S. fresh apple exports, reaching a volume of over 440 million pounds during Q1 of 2024, up from nearly 298 million pounds during the same period in 2023.
In 2023, U.S. apple exports to all destinations grew 6% in value compared to 2022, reaching $926 million.
That year, exports to Canada, the second-largest market for the product, dropped to $166 million in value, an 18% drop. This trend seems to remain in the present season as volumes to the country in Q1 dropped from over $204 million in 2022-23 to just about $190 million in 2023-24.
However, in these two destinations, the U.S. enjoys the largest share of apple imports, with 84% in Canada, above Chile and New Zealand, and 96% in Mexico, with limited competition from Chile.
The U.S. Apple Association, reports an “exceptional” harvest had led to an unprecedented amount of apples remaining in storage level.
Earlier this year, apple growers reported they were struggling with oversupply, saying they were finding it increasingly difficult to secure buyers for their surplus.
Experts have reported this may be the biggest year for U.S. apple production on record.
The USDA’s latest Non-citrus Fruits and Nuts reports estimated a total of 270 million bushels of apple production with Washington leading national production reaching 181 million bushels.
U.S. apple exports exceeded 1 billion pounds during the August to January time period, according to recent USDA data. The volume represents a 47% increase compared to the same period last year.
The increase in export volume was led by Mexico, the main destination for U.S. apples, which jumped from 205 million pounds in 2022-23 to 299 million in the current season.
Another market pushing export growth is India. After India removed retaliatory tariffs of 20% on U.S.-grown apples for the 2023-24 season, mid-season export volumes grew 16 times higher than the 2022-23 season total.
Before the tariffs were imposed, Washington state exported US $120 million worth of apples to India. At the lowest point, Washington growers exported less than US$1 million.
Through January 2024, the U.S. had exported almost 39 million pounds of apples to India, compared to the 584,000 pounds it exported in the same period last season.
In 2023, various trade policies negotiated by the U.S. government, including tariff removals for apples, helped U.S. agricultural producers and exporters of different products gain access to potential markets worth nearly $6.4 billion, according to the USDA.
In Taiwan, U.S. apple exports also enjoyed impressive growth from 51.5 million pounds in 2022-23 to 123 million in the current season. The U.S. remains the main supplier of apples to this market.
Volumes to China are also on the rise. Even though the country has just over 1% share of total exports, shipments this season have grown 84%, reaching more than 19 million pounds.
Colombia also seems to be recovering demand for U.S. apples, following a big drop last season when it imported only 6.6 million pounds. This year, shipments have passed 30 million.
It has been a historic year for apples in the U.S., with forecasts indicating more than 10.5 billion pounds expected for production. The record harvested posted an unexpected challenge to growers: oversupply.
U.S. apple exports to Mexico could should increase this season even Mexico is expected to have a larger crop.
The USDA’ s fresh deciduous report for fresh deciduous fruit for Mexico said although Mexico’s apple production is up 24 percent the removal of the 20 percent tariff last May could boost U.S. exports there.
The tariff was in place for nearly a year, as a retaliatory measure against U.S. tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum. Mexican imports of U.S. apples dropped nearly 16 percent during this period in comparison to marketing year 2017-18, the USDA re;ported.
Mexican consumers remain price sensitive purchasers of fruit, according to the report.
With lower apple prices for marketing year 2019-20, the USDA said apple consumption in Mexico is expected to rebound, resulting in a slight decrease to pear consumption.
Mexican grape exports are forecast at high levels for the 2019-20 season.
The state of Sonora accounts for 85 percent of total table grape production in Mexico, and and 77 percent of the total planted area. Sonora
has increased plantings over 20 percent in the last three years.