Despite challenging climatic conditions, the initial pome fruit crop estimate anticipated a 5 % growth in export volumes

affected by a combination of drought and heatwave conditions.

Current volumes in storage, combined with exports to date, led to the downward adjustment for pome fruit export cartons. The newly calculated volumes indicate a decrease of between-6% and-9% compared to the previous season( refer to Table 1).

initial projections. The decrease in export volumes of Williams Bon Chretien(-5%) is due to smaller fruit size, good demand from the canning industry, and a lack in demand from the northern hemisphere importing countries. Packhams Triumph(-4%), Abate Fetel(-14%), and Vermont Beauty(-19%) are also down compared to last year. Conversely, export volumes of

— mainly due to new orchards coming

A decrease in export volumes

Forelle are in line with the previous season.

into production.

of Golden Delicious(-11 %), Granny

A tough season in terms of grower

However, as the harvesting season

Smith(-20 %), Pink Lady(-29 %), and Fuji

returns and profitability levels is anticipated

progressed, the industry realised that

(-16 %) can directly be attributed to

as a result of the strengthening of the rand

the anticipated volumes are not going

weather conditions impacting on colour

against the major currencies( US dollar, UK

to materialise since fruit size in general

development, fruit size, and pack-outs.

pound sterling, and euro), in combination

and pack-out of fruit on trees have been

Pear export volumes are also down on

with the decrease in export volumes.

CLA

Apples

34 740 044

27 127 687

33 063 328

34 063 266

33 563 297

31 001 460

-3 061 806

-9%

Pears

15 832 419

16 248 989

15 360 718

17 775 364

16 568 041

16 796 977

-978 386

-6%

Total

50 572 464

43 376 676

48 424 046

51 838 630

45 900 361

47 798 437

-4 040 192

-8%