US pear market set for major production rebound in 2026, regaining net exporter status after last year’s drastic decrease

In its latest Apples, Grapes, and Pears trade report, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that the global fresh pear market will expand in 2026. In that context, the US will return to being a net exporter of the pome fruit after switching to net importer status for the first time last year.

The agency reports US pear exports will jump by nearly 40 percent, reaching 100,000 tons. Imports, on the other hand, are set to drop by 13 percent, totaling 80,000 tons, all thanks to a bumper harvest.

The US pear market is expected to soar by 22 percent to 565,000 tons. This represents a significant bounce-back from last season’s historic low, when the American pear industry reported a 20 percent decrease in production, totaling 470,000 metric tons.

However, it seems the last campaign’s setback was only a one-off, and with a brighter outlook this year, Americans can gear up to enjoy more pears than ever before, the USDA says.

The global pear market remains steady

The global fresh pear market is projected to fall by two percent, reaching 26.1 million tons. The decrease, the agency says, is due to lower output in China and Turkey, which remains too large to offset even with a bumper year in the United States.

China's pear output is forecast to drop by 16 percent to 20.5 million tons due to drought in the Shandong and Shaanxi provinces. This estimate marks the first drop in production in seven years, but it doesn’t prevent exports from growing, as they’re forecast to rise by seven percent to 700,000 tons.

Turkey’s harvest is forecast to be down 30 percent to 461,000 tons due to frost damage in spring 2025.

Global fresh pear exports are forecast to increase slightly to two million tons, fueled by higher exports from China, the United States, and the European Union.

Indonesia and Russia's imports are forecast to increase by 20 percent and nine percent, respectively, driven by strong shipments from China.

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