The expected volume of apple production in Spain is lower than already estimated, while sales volumes continue to grow.

As the Catalan Fruit Business Association, AFRUCAT, informs, the expected volume of apple production in this campaign is even lower than already estimated.

Compared to last week, the prices of apples sold in pallets rose between 15 and 20 percent. The general drop in production in Spain and Europe has been confirmed and increased by the final harvest figures collected last week, according to the director of AFRUCAT, Manel Simón.

For the following months, if the sales dynamics remain stable, the Catalan fruit stocks will be depleted before the end of the season, taking into account that January is the month of the year in which apples are sold less, and the peak falls in the months of February and March.

Forecasts for Catalonia. It is expected a 16 percent drop in production in the main region for cultivation, while production in 2020 has been even lower than forecast, with 25 percent less (235.676 tons).

This decrease in volumes was caused by frosts and rains that affected the fruit. AFRUCAT reports that the hail during the summer has damaged much of the fruit that was awaiting harvest.

The European apple production was 1 percent less than last season, with a total of 10.711.000 tons, reports the Prognosfruit Congress. With the last update published in December, the expected production volume for the apple will be maintained. While France, Italy, Germany and Spain have corrected their productions downwards.

The Spanish apple export, according to Fepex, grew by 20 percent in volume, and by 17 percent in value, compared to the same period in 2019. With a total of 110.705 tons and 81 million euros, Catalonia remains the main exporting region, with sales of 78.622 tons, which means an increase of 21 percent, and 56 million euros (+15 percent), in the mentioned period.