Despite lower apple production in the EU and, correspondingly, lower stocks, apple prices in Poland in the end of the season 2012/13 were averagely 32-33% lower year-on-year. Average prices over the season were 25% lower compared with the previous result.
Polish apple growers had to reduce their prices due to record high apple production in the country, which, correspondingly, led to larger stocks of apples during the season. Polish apple stocks amounted to 56,000 tonnes as at June 1, 2013, an increase of 4% from the same period of the previous year. Furthermore, Poland was the only country in the EU with larger stocks year-on-year: Italian stocks were 30% lower, French stocks decreased by 55%, and Italian apple stocks fell by 65%.
However, despite that, the Russian Federation still remained the main export market for Polish apples, while the demand for them in the EU was low. Furthermore, Russian apple production was rather high too, which intensified competition in Russia and also exerted pressure on prices.
Source: www.fruit-inform.com