U.S. APPLE EXPORTS MARK 



•COMING OF AGE' , 



AS VOLUME REGISTERS 41-YEAR HIGH 



Gilbert E. Sindelar 

 Director of Horticultural and Tropical Products Division, FAS. 



It was the year of the American apple in Taiwan as sales there 

 led a world-wide surge in U.S. exports, with the 1979/80 volume 

 hitting the highest level in 41 years. Taiwan became the leading 

 foreign market for U.S. apples, taking the top spot long held by 

 Canada. Outlook for the 1980/81 season points to another banner 

 year . 



The 1979/80 season was the third straight strong showing for 

 U.S. exports and marks a "coming of age" for U.S. apples in foreign 

 markets . 



Today, apple exports are beginning to be a factor in the market- 

 ing equation, with one out of 10 cartons for the fresh market moving 

 into export. Thirty years ago, when controlled atmosphere storage 

 was in its infancy, apple export markets were virtually nonexistant- 

 except for Canada. 



The importance of export markets for U.S. apple producers has 

 been aptly demonstrated the past three seasons. Both 1977 and 1978 

 were excellent export years, with 7.9 million cartons (42 lbs. each) 

 moving abroad in 1977 and 7.5 million in 1978. But the 1979 season- 

 that ended on June 30, 1980-was even better as the equivalent of 

 12.4 million cartons of U.S. apples moved into export, with impress- 

 ive gains in all major markets being topped off by the tremendous 

 success in Taiwan. The 1979/80 volume to all destinations was the 

 largest since the 1938 season when 13.8 million cartons were exported 



The final tally of the 1979/80 season revealed a gain of almost 

 5 million cartons-or 65 percent-over the very good showing of the 

 preceding season. Exports earnings totaled $125 million versus $67 

 million in 1978/79 as the derived unit value of export sales averaged 

 $10.06 per equivalent carton, compared with $8.87 the season earlier. 



As the 1980/81 export season begins to shift into high gear, it 

 is still difficult to project export totals, especially for the two 

 leading markets of Canada and Taiwan, because of the volatility of 

 the marketplace. Although early estimates indicate a dropoff in 

 these two markets, gains elsewhere are expected to nearly offset 

 these losses. As a result, U.S. apple exports in the 1980/81 market- 

 ing year are forecast at 12.3 million cartons, just under last year's 



1 

 Reprinted from February, 1981 issue of Foreign Agriculture 



