The global apple production market: current trends and Ukraine’s potential
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33730/2310-4678.4.2025.346179Keywords:
food security, horticulture, global apple market, production volume, market development trends, global country ranking, export potentialAbstract
The global fresh apple market occupies a leading position in the world’s agrarian economy due to its large production volumes and significance in international trade, with apple cultivation widely distributed across different regions of the world. Apples have both high nutritional and economic value, representing a substantial share of exports for many countries and ensuring stable demand in domestic markets. Studying the development trends of the fresh apple market is important for assessing competitive advantages, shaping strategies to increase production efficiency, and determining its role in the global economy. Analysis of global statistical data has shown an increase in apple production, driven both by the expansion of orchard areas and the introduction of intensive technologies. The main apple producers worldwide in the 2024/2025 marketing year were China (57% of global production), the EU-27 countries (13%), the USA (6%), Turkey (5%), and India (3%). Ukraine ranked ninth globally, producing 1.13 million tons, which accounts for 1.3% of world production. Despite the war and related political and socio-economic challenges in agriculture, Ukraine annually produced 1,129.1–1,172.8 thousand tons in 2022–2023 and supplied apples to the markets of Europe and Southeast Asia. At the same time, the productivity of Ukrainian apple orchards remains low: with an average yield of 15.15 tons/ha, Ukraine ranks 44th in the world. Nevertheless, despite low orchard productivity and a reduction in apple-growing areas, production continues to grow. The strategic objective for the development of Ukrainian horticulture is to establish a highly profitable sector through the implementation of innovative resource-saving technologies, including the establishment of new intensive orchards, as well as the stabilization and increase of high-quality production.
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