The latest data from the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) shows that European apple stocks stood at 1,196,024 tonnes at the start of May, a decrease of 6.4 per cent compared to the same date in last year – a year-on-year reduction of 81,760 tonnes.

Major reductions were seen in Poland (down 86,974 tonne or 27.8 per cent to 226,000 tonnes), Austria (whose stocks fell by 57.3 per cent year-on-year to 16,101 tonnes), as well as the Czech Republic and Belgium which saw year-on-year declines in stocks of 73.5 per cent and 42.4 per cent, respectively.

In France stocks increased by 13.5 per cent on the previous year to 225,313 tonnes, and Switzerland saw an increase of 71.9 per cent. The UK stock figure was 30,334 tonnes some 180.9 per cent higher than May 2024 with more than 14,000 tonnes less fruit moved. As in the previous report, Italy remained the largest stock holder with 448,685 tonnes of apples, a small increase of 0.3 per cent year-on-year.

The rise in pear stocks in the UK was even more pronounced at 218.5 per cent year-on-year, as stock reached 1,398 tonnes. Overall European pear stocks stood at 96,913 tonnes, reflecting a decrease of 18.9 per cent (22,568 tonnes) compared to the 119,481 tonnes recorded at the start of May 2024. In particular, Spain (Catalonia) experienced a sharp reduction of 59.3 per cent from 18,540 tonnes in 2024 to 7,537 tonnes in 2025. The Netherlands and Belgium also saw significant decreases of 17.6 per cent and 25.3 per cent, respectively.