Top 10 Apple Producing and Exporting Countries in the World | Economy

Aljazeera.net correspondents

Apples are one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world, and are known for their crunchy texture and sweet-tart flavour. They are a nutritious fruit rich in fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants, and low in calories.

In this report, Al Jazeera Net reviews figures on the largest countries that produce, export and import this fruit.

Global Apple Market and Future Prospects

• In 2023, China was the world’s leading producer of apples, producing about 45 million metric tons, while the European Union came in second with more than 12 million metric tons of apples, according to Mordor Intelligence.
• The fresh apple market size is expected to reach USD 101.04 billion in 2024 and USD 111.56 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 2% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
• Over the recent years, the fresh apple market has witnessed significant growth on the back of increasing demand for fresh produce in emerging and developing countries across the world.
• Due to the increasing health benefits it provides and the development of new hybrid varieties, the global market is witnessing an exponential growth.
• As China is the world’s largest producer of fresh apples, it is also the largest consumer, followed by the European Union, the United States and other countries.
• The consumption of fresh apples in China is due to the gradual increase in income and health awareness among the population, dietary changes, e-commerce, marketing innovations, and improved cold chains, the previous source said.

Top 10 Apple Producing Countries in the World

Below is a list of the world’s top 10 apple producing countries in 2023-2024, in metric tons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service:

1. China: 45 million metric tons (54% of world production)
2. EU: 12.21 million metric tons (15%)
3. United States: 5.03 million metric tons (6%)
4. Türkiye: 4.85 million metric tons (6%)
5. India: 2.41 million metric tons (3%)
6. Iran: 2.24 million metric tons (3%)
7. Russia: 1.84 million metric tons (2%)
8. Brazil: 1.3 million metric tons (2%)
9. Ukraine: 1.28 million metric tons (2%)
10. South Africa: 1.23 million metric tons (1%)

Top 10 Apple Exporting Countries in the World

Below is a list of the top 10 apple exporting countries in the world for the 2022-2023 season, according to Statista.

1- European Union: 1.03 million metric tons

2- China: 774 thousand metric tons

3- United States: 611 thousand metric tons

4- South Africa: 595 thousand metric tons

5- Iran: 546 thousand metric tons

6- Chile: 490 thousand metric tons

7- Türkiye: 396 thousand metric tons

8- New Zealand: 310 thousand metric tons

9- Moldova: 123 thousand metric tons

10- Serbia: 110 thousand metric tons

Top 10 Apple Importing Countries in the World

Below is a list of the top 10 apple importing countries in the world for the 2022-2023 season, according to Statista.

1- India: 360 thousand metric tons

2- Russia: 347 thousand metric tons

3- Iraq: 341 thousand metric tons

4- Vietnam: 303 thousand metric tons

5- United Kingdom: 278 thousand metric tons

6- European Union: 243 thousand metric tons

7- Mexico: 232 thousand metric tons

8- Saudi Arabia: 199 thousand metric tons

9- UAE: 190 thousand metric tons

10- Bangladesh: 178 thousand metric tons

Top 5 Arab Apple Producing Countries

Below is a list of the top 5 Arab apple producing countries in 2022, based on the Food and Agriculture Organization’s corporate statistical database, as reported by Wikipedia.

1- Egypt: 934.4 thousand metric tons

2- Morocco: 922.8 thousand metric tons

3- Algeria: 539.8 thousand metric tons

4- Syria: 331.8 thousand metric tons

5- Lebanon: 248.2 thousand metric tons

Facts you may not know about apples

• Apples were first discovered by humans about 750,000 years ago by early Paleolithic food gatherers in Kazakhstan.
• Humans began cultivating apples about 8,000 years ago in Asia, and around 1300 BC the Egyptians began planting apple orchards along the Nile Delta.
• There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples grown worldwide, The most prominent types are “Delicious Golden”, “Delicious Red”, “Mackintosh”, “Gala”, “Fuji”, and others.
• The best type for general health is the “Red Delicious” apple, as its dark red peel contains many antioxidants, which are substances that protect cells from damage, according to the Cleveland Clinic medical platform.
• The saying goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and this may be true. Apples are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, especially vitamin C, which is very useful in strengthening the immune system.