WELLINGTON: Industry estimates indicate that total deciduous fruit plantings in New Zealand, for the 2016/2017 growing season, total 9,976 hectares (ha); 3.6 percent greater than the 2015/2016, 9,626 ha. Total plantings are forecast to keep increasing at the rate of 300-400 ha per year until 2020. The combination of a range of new apple cultivars with varying taste characteristics, grown and stored to achieve a high quality eating experience, along with reasonable market access conditions in Asia, is driving the renaissance of the deciduous fruit sector in New Zealand.
The total deciduous fruit production for 2015/2016 is now estimated at 562,400 metric tons (MT), which is only 0.6 percent less than 2014/2015. This is a good crop result given the 2015/2016 growing season was expected to be a biennial bearing “off” year. Looking ahead to 2016/2017, the increased apple plantings and the potential for a biennial “on” year should mean a 3 percent increase in total production, reaching 580,100MT.
For 2015/2016, total consumption is estimated at 71,925MT which is 2.6 percent less than 2014/2015. For 2016/2017, total consumption is forecast to be similar at 71,675MT. Processing volumes, in 2015/2016, have been estimated at 143,000MT, 12 percent lower than 2014/2015, because a higher proportion of fruit met export grade standards in 2015/2016, which then reduced the tonnage going to processing. For 2016/2017, total processing volumes are forecast at 145,000MT, which will be 1.4 percent up from 2015/16 on account of the increased production.
The export volume in 2015/2016 has been the beneficiary of a superb growing season for most of the deciduous fruit growing regions, which resulted in high export pack-out rates. Total deciduous fruit exports should reach a total of 351,550MT in 2015/2016, 5.5 percent greater than 2014/2015. Looking ahead to 2016/2017, total exports are forecast at 367,500MT as a result of extra apple production flowing through to increased exports. The financial outlook for growers in 2015/2016 is again very good, making it the fourth consecutive year of good returns. Average Free-On-Board (FOB) returns for 2015/2016 are running 9 percent above the comparable period for 2014/2015 (year to date basis).
