World apple production to fall to five-year low

In the 2025/26 season, the global apple harvest is forecast to decline by 5% to 81.7 million tons. The main reason for the negative dynamics is a significant decrease in the harvest in China and Turkey, which will not be able to compensate for even the increase in production in the United States.

This was reported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its December report Fresh Apples, Grapes, and Pears: World Markets and Trade.

According to the report, in China, production is expected to decrease by 2.3 million tons to 47.0 million tons due to adverse weather in key growing regions and a reduction in the area under orchards. The situation is even more critical in Turkey, where the harvest may fall by 57% to 2.0 million tons due to severe spring frosts.

The Ukrainian apple sector demonstrates stability against the background of global fluctuations. According to analysts, production in Ukraine will remain at the same level as last year and will amount to 1.173 million tons. Domestic consumption in the country is forecasted at 1.158 million tons.

The opposite trend is observed in the table grape market. World production will increase by 545 thousand tons to 30.0 million tons. China, thanks to the introduction of rain shelter technologies and the cultivation of year-round varieties, will increase the harvest to 15.0 million tons and for the first time in history may share the status of the world’s largest exporter of this crop with Peru.

As for pears, world production will decrease by 2% to 26.1 million tons. The main blow again fell on China and Turkey due to drought and frost. At the same time, the USA plans to increase the pear harvest to 565 thousand tons, which will allow the country to return to the status of a net exporter.

Tags: apples