Table of Contents

• ON THE COVER
• STAFF CONTACTS
• EXPORT SUMMARY

WORLD TRADE SITUATION AND POLICY UPDATES:

• Public comment period on organic rule extended
• Switzerland implements organic regulations
• USDA seeks access for Florida citrus to the Philippines; technical team visit planned
• Argentine technical team concludes Florida citrus visit
• Indonesia duty cuts to benefit U.S. horticultural exports
• The European Union announces a new grubbing-up program for apples, pears, peaches and nectarines
• U.S. - Taiwan market access agreement to benefit horticultural commodities

EXPORT NEWS AND OPPORTUNITIES:

• USDA amends Russia GSM-102 Program to include additional horticultural products
• USDA announces the Southeast Europe Region Supplier Credit Guarantee Program and amends the Mexico Program

FEATURE ARTICLES:

• World Apple Situation
• World Fresh Pear Situation
• World Update on Table Grapes and U.S. Export Performance
• Prune Situation and Outlook in Selected Countries
• Northern Hemisphere Wine Situation & Outlook
• Macadamia Situation & Outlook
• Kiwifruit Situation for Selected Countries

STATISTICS:

• U.S. Horticultural December Export Summary
• U.S. Horticultural December Import Summary
• U.S. Horticultural Product and Market Export Summaries
• FY 1998 GSM-102 Credit Guarantee Coverage
• FY 1998 Supplier Credit Coverage
• Apples: Production, Supply & Distribution in Selected Countries
• U.S. Apple Exports, 1994/95-1996/97
• Pears: Production, Supply, and Distribution, in Selected Countries
• U.S. Pear Exports, 1994/95-1996/97
• Table Grapes: Production, Supply & Distribution in Selected Countries
• United States: Table Grape Exports & Imports
• Prunes: Production, Supply & Distribution
• U.S. Prune Exports
• Macadamia Nuts: Production Supply & Distribution
• Exports of Prepared and Preserved Macadamias to Principal Destinations 1993-1997
• Kiwifruit: Production Supply & Distribution
• December U.S. Exports of Horticultural Products by Country of Destination
• December U.S. Imports of Horticultural Products by Country of Origin

Export Summary

U.S. exports of horticultural products to all countries in December totaled $844 million, up 7 percent from the same month a year earlier. Eleven out of 15 categories registered increases. Categories with the most significant increases in December were fresh non-citrus fruit (up $20.1 million or 26 percent); fresh vegetables (up $17.5 million or 22 percent); fruit and vegetable juices (up $9.6 million or 22 percent); and wine (up $8.0 million or 32 percent). The categories with the most significant decreases were miscellaneous products (down $11.6 million or 6 percent) and tree nuts (down $5.8 million or 5 percent). From October to December 1997, 5 of the top 10 U.S. markets showed increases. Canada registered the largest increase for the first 3 months of FY1998 (up 13 percent over the same time period a year ago) followed by Mexico (up 16 percent). The largest decrease for the top 10 markets was for the Republic of Korea (down 20 percent). For FY 1998 to date (October-December), the total value of U.S. horticultural exports was $2.82 billion--1 percent above FY 1997. The horticultural product export forecast for total fiscal year 1998 has been reduced $400 million to $10.8 billion, based on reduced sales to Asian countries due to the financial crisis and currency devaluations in that part of the world. This is still above FY 1997's record total of $10.6 billion.

Last modified: Tuesday, May 08, 2001