China fresh apples - USDA FAS

Here is the link to a recent USDA FAS report on Chinese fresh deciduous fruit production, including apples. As noted by apple country economist Des O'Rourke, China's apple output is up this year. From the summary:


China’s apple production is forecast at 28.5 million MT in MY 2008, up 15 percent from the previous year, the result of a high year in the production cycle. Concentrated apple juice production is forecast at 600,000 MT in MY 2008, down 50 percent from the previous year, attributed both to large quantities of carry-over stock and weakening demand in the world market. Industry sources believe that crushers held at least 300,000 MT of stocks at the end of MY 2007, as sky-rocketing prices limited the buying interest of the major world buyers. Apple exports are forecast at 870,000 MT in MY 2008, while CAJ exports are forecast at 700,000 MT in MY 2008, down 13 percent from the previous year, given expected lower demand from Europe and America.