The value of U.S. apple exports dipped slightly in the year ending June 2021, but some export destinations saw big gains.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture shows the value of U.S. apple exports for the year ending June 2021 totaled $899.3 million. That was down 2% from the same period in 2020, 17% below 2015 export values but up 14% from 2010.
Exports to Mexico, the biggest export destination for U.S. apples, totaled $303.3 million for the year ending in June. That performance is up 23% from the same period in 2020, 7% ahead of 2015 and 43% from 2010 exports, according to the USDA.
Canada was ranked the No. 2 export destination for U.S. apples, buying $153.6 million for the year ending June 2021. That is down 6% from a year ago, 13% lower than 2015 but up 8% from 2010.
Vietnam has rocketed up the chart in terms of export importance for U.S. apples, buying $75.2 million for the year ending in June, up 26% for the same period in 2020. U.S. apple export shipments to Vietnam have soared 58% since 2015 and 996% compared with 2010.
U.S. apple exports to Taiwan were $69.7 million for the year ending in June, down 23% from 2020, off 22% from 2015 but up 37% from 2010.
U.S. apple exports to Indonesia have slide in recent years, according to USDA data. For the year ending June, Indonesia purchased $30.1 million worth of U.S. apples, down 9% from 2020, 13% lower than 2015 and 36% lower than 2010.
The same is true for India, which bought $28.8 million of U.S. apples for the year ending in June, down 22% from 2020, 73% lower than 2015 and down 23% in 2010.
A big success story in the Caribbean is the Dominican Republic, which imported $25.1 million in U.S. apples for the year ending in June, up 10% from 2020, up 39% from 2015 and up 153% from 2010.
Washington outlook
During the 2020-21 crop year, Washington growers exported about 25.9% of the state’s total fresh crop to about 60 countries around the world, said Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission, Wenatchee.
As a percentage of the fresh crop, Fryhover said that percent exported was the second lowest in the past two decades. A big contributing factor are tariffs imposed by several countries in responses to President Trump’s tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum imports from several countries.
Meanwhile, Fryhover said the Biden administration isn’t moving forward on trade issues and has left tariffs in place with China and India.
Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, Fryhover said there are positives, including the fact that overall market conditions are strong.
Fryhover said it may be reasonable to expect a similar portion of the crop – about 25% – will be exported in 2021-22.
The varietal mix of the crop is important to consider as well, he said.
“The red delicious volume is the smallest since 1974 and the golden delicious volume is the smallest it’s been since 1968,” he said, noting that red delicious typically makes up about 50% of exports. Galas account for about 25% of exports, and the rest is a combination of several varieties.
Fryhover said the Washington Apple Commission will be aggressive in promoting Washington apples in North America.
“We are going to do everything that we have to do in Mexico to protect our market share,” he said. “We’re going to ramp up activities in Canada, specifically on organics, Cosmic Crisp, and then we’re going to refocus on high-value offshore markets.”
Canada is the best export market for organic and the rising Cosmic Crisp variety.
“We did see a number of countries, specifically Taiwan and Israel, take full load volumes of (Cosmic Crisp) this last season, so we are watching that very closely.”
Mexico also is taking some Cosmic Crisp, although typically for lower grades, he said.
Vietnam and Taiwan are important offshore markets.
“Vietnam is looking for high-quality fruit; they’re willing to pay for it as well,” he said.
With 90 million people, Vietnam features a growing economy with more consumers shopping at supermarkets. Consumers in Vietnam also value the food safety and quality of Washington fruit, he said.
“Those retail consumers, as they’re starting to get a little bit more disposable income, they are having a tendency to shop retail more frequently and trade up to our product.”
