Brazilian apple exports take a dive in 2014
Brazil's apple exports for 2014 are expected to be considerably lower once the season finishes in July, according to estimates from SĆ£o Paulo University's Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (CEPEA).
A recent CEPEA report cited figures from the Brazilian Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex) that showed export volumes of the fruit were down 47% year-on-year between January and June, reaching 44,000 metric tons (MT).
Average prices received for Brazilian apples just under what they were in 2013 as well, with export values down 48% at US$31 million.
In contrast, apple import volumes rose to put them basically on the same level as exports, with 44,000MT; a record that hadn't been seen since 1998.
The report indicated Brazil spent a lot more on overseas-sourced apples than the prices gained for its own exports of the fruit, with imports rising to US$43 million.
CEPEA highlighted that apple import values were 37% higher than exports, compared to a deficit of 52% last year.
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