2005 apple crop estimated to drop by 15 percent

China's apple production in 2005/2006 is estimated to be down about 15 percent from last year's bumper crop to 20.4 million metric tons (MMT). Cold temperatures in late spring appear to have affected a wide area in the northern apple production region. Major producing provinces like Shandong, Hebei, Henan and Shanxi all saw their apple production decline by 10 to 20 percent. Despite the drop in production, fruit quality has improved. As a result of the production decline, apple exports are forecast to be down nearly 8 percent from the previous season to 780,000 MT. Given domestic apples prices increased more than 20 percent over last year, many apples were sold domestically instead of going overseas