Chinese Apples Fall Back To Earth

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Scott C. Lucas|18 April 2006

Following a bumper crop in 2004/05, the production of apples in China is back down to normal levels in 2005/06, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA-FAS). Forecasts show China producing 20.4 million metric tons (MMT) this season, a 15% drop from last year.

The drop in production is due primarily to cold temperatures in late spring in a wide area in the northern apple production region. Major apple producing provinces such as Shandong, Hebei, Henan, and Shanxi all saw apple production decline by 10% to 20%.

The good news for Chinese apple producers is that fruit quality has improved this year, and strong prices should follow a global shortage of apples.