European fruit markets see divergent apple and pear yields

European fruit markets are seeing divergent trends in apple and pear supplies. In France, pear stocks as of late June 2026 are 59% higher than the previous year, though they remain significantly below the five-year average. Agreste attributes this surge to moderate demand and an abundance of smaller fruit sizes that are harder to sell. Conversely, French apple stocks are 1% lower than in 2025, but remain 10% above the five-year average. French apple exports saw significant growth in markets such as China (+111%), Saudi Arabia (+121%), and the United Arab Emirates (+96%), despite declines in exports to Belgium and Germany.

In Germany, the 2026 apple harvest is projected to decline by 5.4% compared to the ten-year average. Destatis reports that extreme weather, including heat waves, hail, and sunburn damage, has severely impacted yields. Regions such as Thuringia and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have faced significant losses. While the apple harvest is struggling, the German plum and prune harvest is expected to be 11.5% higher than the ten-year average, driven largely by strong production in Baden-Württemberg.