HENRY INTERNATIONAL

World production of cherries will decline by 3%.

1 Nov , 2017 USDA Report - SimFRUIT
According to a report by the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), world cherry production is forecast to decline by 3 percent to 3.1 million tons because the climate-damaged crops in the European Union and Turkey will offset the increases in the United States, China, and Chile.
Meanwhile, world exports are estimated to increase by 10 percent to more than 400,000 tons with higher exportable supplies from Chile and the United States.


United States
US production will increase by 37,000 tons to 495,000 tons, the second highest level since 2009-2010, as good growth conditions for sweet cherries in the Pacific Northwest and good moisture levels in California offset the losses caused by frost in the states that produce cherries. Exports are expected to increase by 45 percent, i.e. 34,000 tons, and reach a record high of 110,000 tons. This abundant harvest would boost shipments to all markets, especially to Canada and China. According to forecasts, imports will be light, albeit in line with recent years.


The European Union
EU production is expected to decline by 21% to 576,000 tons due to the intense frost of April and May that affected more than half of the Member States and key producers of cherries, most significantly in Poland, the main producer of this fruit. Despite lower production, sustained demand from non-EU Eastern European countries is expected to push exports slightly. Imports are forecast to fall by 8,000 tons to 50,000 tons with fewer deliveries from the main supplier, Turkey.


Turkey
Turkey's output is expected to shrink by 25,000 tons, to 500,000 tons. This reduction was caused by summer hail and the heavy rain there were at harvest in several regions, including Canakkale and Balikesir. As a result of poor weather conditions, the fruit had quality problems that are expected to drastically limit exports by 25 percent to 60,000 tons.


China
For the fifth consecutive year, China's output is expected to rise. According to forecasts China's production will increase by 30,000 tons, reaching 360,000 tons, given the continuous trend of new plantations that reach maturity. Meanwhile, imports are expected to slightly decrease to 105,000 tons.


Chile
Chile's output is forecast to rise by 8,000 tons, reaching a record level of 124,000 tons, the second highest level in 3 years. This increase is the result of new orchards entering into production. The cultivated area and cherry production have grown steadily for more than a decade, in part because growers of other fruits started planting high-yielding cherry varieties.
The USDA expects that Chilean exports of fresh cherries in the 2017-2018 period will increase by about 10 percent to 105,000 tons.


Japan
Japan's production is estimated to be practically flat at 19,000 tons, as the frost during flowering led to a significant decline in production, resulting in a withdrawal of farmers. Imports are forecast to rise slightly to 5,000 tons.


Russia
Russia's imports are expected to remain almost unchanged at 67,000 tons as deliveries from Moldova and Serbia offset the smallest shipments from Azerbaijan.