Hungary: apples are expensive, the harvest was poor

Due to the weak European harvest, there is a high demand for Hungarian apples, which predicts an increase in prices. According to the forecasts of the Hungarian Fruit and Vegetable Association FruitVeB, this year’s apple harvest will be well below last year’s 472,000 tons, and only 330,000 tons is expected, which is the second weakest result of the last ten years.

Satisfying domestic apple consumption is becoming more and more difficult, as the production of edible apples is slightly decreasing, and the amount of industrial apples is falling significantly. The expected harvest of edible apples is around 90,000-100,000 tons, which will not be enough to satisfy the domestic demand of 110,000 tons. In the case of industrial apples, according Trademagazin, the situation is even more critical: the expected harvest of 230,000-240,000 tons does not cover the full capacity of the domestic processing industry.

Due to the European shortage and high demand, the apple market is expected to rise in price. The price of edible apples may increase by 10-15 percent, while producer prices may increase by 25-35 percent. In the case of industrial apples, a significant price increase is also expected, the opening season prices may be over HUF 80 per kilogram.

Read also: No cheap apples in new season – production declines in EU, Ukraine, Moldova, and beyond

On the domestic market, Polish, Austrian and Czech demand may further increase prices, as these countries buy a significant amount of Hungarian apples. If the domestic market cannot keep up with foreign prices, there is a risk that a significant amount of apples will be exported, which could cause a shortage in the domestic supply.

The Hungarian apple market is therefore facing serious challenges this season, and consumers will also feel the rise in prices. According to FruitVeB, higher prices should be expected instead of the usual discount prices in previous seasons, which could further increase market tension.