The
Ministry of Primary Industries is forecasting a more than 40 percent
drop in gold kiwifruit exports and production compared to last year
because of the bacterial Psa virus ravaging the fruit crop.
The
department is expecting a 43 percent drop in the year ended March 31,
2014 in its Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries 2013 report
released today.
But the MPI expected export volumes of gold kiwifruit could return to pre-PSA levels within three years.
The
ministry calls that a "best case scenario […] if the industry can
successfully transition to new Psa-tolerant gold kiwifruit varieties."
However, production and exports of green kiwifruit, which is more tolerant of Psa, "should remain relatively stable".
According
to the ministry's figures kiwifruit exports made up 29.6 percent of
export revenue or $1.43 billion. The largest market for kiwifruit is
Japan which accounts for 30 percent of exports.
The kiwifruit industry
exported 9 percent fewer trays of kiwifruit in the year ended March 31,
2013 because of Psa and seasonal factors.
Export volumes to Asia and Europe fell by 4 percent to 46 million trays and 10 percent to 44 million trays respectively.
The
Psa vine-killing virus, which was confirmed to be in New Zealand in
November 2010 affected 70 percent of kiwifruit orchards in the North
Island in May 2013, up from 40 percent in 2012.
More
than 1500 hectares, about 60 percent of the crop, of the main gold
kiwifruit cultivar, Hort16A has been removed because of the disease.
The
ministry says the removal of that crop will likely reduce export
volumes to 13 million trays, or 43 percent, which is in line with the
Government's prediction from last year.
Meanwhile
green kiwifruit orchards are expected to export around 75 million trays
for the year ending March 31, 2014 – a similar level to last year.
Kiwifruit
export volumes are expected to fall 13 percent overall to 88 million
trays and export returns are expected to fall 20 percent to $830 million
for the year ended March 31, 2014.
3 News
No comments:
Post a Comment