The trade balance for Brazil's fresh apple market has experienced a significant shift, moving to a negative balance of US$72.64 million from January to May. This development is unprecedented, marking the largest deficit since 1997. The decline in the trade balance is attributed to a decrease in exports and an increase in imports, as detailed by Comex Stat.

Export revenue fell by 72% to US$7.76 million, while import expenses rose by 72% to US$80.40 million. These changes are a consequence of the Brazilian apple harvest's challenges, including heavy rains since spring 2023. These conditions led to quality issues, such as the spread of fungal diseases like Glomerella cingulata and smaller fruit sizes, which in turn affected exports and increased imports of medium-sized fruits.

Data from DataLiner shows a decline in exports of apples, pears, and quinces from Brazil between January 2022 and April 2024. However, partial data from January to April indicates a slight recovery in apple imports to Russia.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com