U.S. exports of fresh pears for the 12-month period from July 2021 to June 2022 totaled $148.1 million, down 1% from the previous year.
Mexico was the top export market for U.S. pears, taking $85.9 million from July 2021 through June 2021, up 5% compared with the same period a year ago.
Canada ranked second among export markets, taking $46.9 million of U.S. pears from July 2021 to June 2022, which was unchanged from the same period the previous year.
U.S. pear export markets from July 2021 to June 2022, ranked in order of importance, and with change compared with the previous year, were:
- Mexico: $85.9 million, up 5%
- Canada: $46.9 million, unchanged
- Guatemala: $2.4 million, up 11%
- Costa Rica: $1.2 million, unchanged
- Taiwan: $1.1 million, up 12%
- United Arab Emirates: $1.1 million, down 51%
- Brazil: $1.03 million, down 47%
- El Salvador: $1 million, up 39%
- Saudi Arabia: $941,000, up 10%
- India: $896,000, down 42%
- Grand total: $148.1 million, down 1%
Future of exports
The Western Hemisphere will be the main stage for pear exports in future years, says Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest.
The bulk of pears exports will be to Mexico, Canada, and South and Central America.
“We still have some definite growth in the Middle East and India, and some niche markets out there,” he said. Northwest pear exporters currently don’t ship a lot of Asia, compared with apple and cherry exporters.
Russia was a significant customer for U.S. pears as late as 2013 when the country purchased more than $12 million of U.S. pears. After Russia invaded Crimea in March 2014, Western Europe and the U.S. imposed trade sanctions against Russia, and Russia halted imports of U.S. and European goods, including fresh fruit.
“Russia was one of the biggest pear-importing companies in the world,” Moffitt said, noting that Russia took about 3% of the U.S. pear crop in 2013. Export of pears to Russia won’t likely restart anytime in the near future, he said.
