It says that apple exports continued to increase in 2015 with 3,612 tonnes of fresh apples, valued at A$10.32m, exported. Trade to Thailand reached 550 tonnes, a five fold increase over 2014, while the much stronger Pink Lady™ trade to the United Kingdom also influenced export results. Import trade was 13 per cent higher at 692 tonnes with the higher share imported from China.

From January to November 2015 there were 9,785 tonnes of fresh pears exported – valued at A$15.7m. New Zealand and Indonesia were the major market destinations. Trade to Hong Kong lifted off a low base to 1,109 tonnes. Imports were around 60 per cent higher than the previous year for the season to date with 1,082 tonnes of pears recorded for imports.

APAL says that the final apple and pear export report for 2015 will be available in February and will included data from January to December.