China, USA and South Africa appear to be in a race to get their pears accepted by Indian consumers. Volumes have jumped up exponentially from 2007 to 2013, and so have valuations.

Pears from Belgium too appear to have made their mark in India. Kris Wouters, owner of Belgium based Fruithandel Wouters, a family business that has been operating in the fruit sector for over four generations, is excited about the huge potential that exists in the Indian market.

``Though Russia was our main market for pears, in future, I think it will be India. There is a very big potential for our pears (in India). First of all for Conference (pear variety), and in the future also for our QTee variety," Wouters told Business Line.

Qtee is a pear that has a red blushed appearance. It was introduced in the Belgian market two years ago, though the first serious orchards planted last year are set to bear fruit that could make their way to India next year.

The main pear variety in Belgium is Conference. As Wouters said, it is also the most popular variety in Europe and in Russia.

"Qtee is a new variety and (so) not much is available. We hope to send the first trial pallets (of Qtee) to India in the next season, together with some other pears. Over the last two winters, several trees have been planted, and production is set to increase,'' Wouters pointed out.

Belgium's Fruithandel Wouters is looking at several promotional activities in the Indian market, to initially position its Conference pears, and to educate Indian consumers about the pears "excellent taste".

High exports

Though China exported 381,281 tonnes of pears in 2013, down 6.9 per cent, exports to India have jumped. The Asian neighbour has also managed to surpass pear exports from the United States of America.

According to trade data from the website of the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), imports of pears and quinces (the golden yellow fruit looks like a pear) from China in 2007-08 were 5,107.41 kgs, valued at $2.50 million. By 2012-13, imports had jumped to 12,802.49 kgs, valued at $7.23 million.

USA was edged to the second place in the comparative period. According to DGCIS data, imports from USA in 2007-08 were 1,794.95 kg valued at $1.97 million. This shot up to 2,756.09 kgs in 2012-13, valued at $4.10 million.

Similarly, pear imports from South Africa were marginally lower than the US, and accounted for the third highest share during the same period. In 2007-08, South Africa imported 1,169.45 kgs of pears valued at $1.13 million. By 2012-13, this has jumped to 3,737.74 kg valued at $3.77 million.

Production declines

The Agricultural Statistics Board of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has noted in a release dated April 9, that pear production across domestic units in the US was 808.2 tonnes in 2013-2014.

From pear imports worth $5.77 million in 2013-14, imports from China during April 2014 to January 2015 were at 8,188.30 kgs valued at $5.86 million. However, imports from USA were down.

During April 2014 to January 2015, pear imports from USA were at 1,878.41 kgs (from 2,518.76 kgs during 2013-14) valued at $2.8 million ($3.8 million). Pear imports from South Africa were higher during the same period.

From 2,799.56 kgs ($3.39 million) in 2013-14, pear imports from SA to India clocked 3,324.75 kgs ($3.94 million) during April 2014 to January 2015. SA also managed to unseat USA to the third slot during the same period.

China is the world’s dominant producer of pears, comprising 75 per cent of total output. According to data from the USDA, pear production is forecast to reach 18.5 MMT between July 2014 to June 2015, up 7 per cent from the previous year, due to favorable growing conditions across major producing areas.

The increases are also attributed to a rebound in production following a spring freeze during 2013/14 in the northern producing provinces. Pear acreage is expected to remain stable at slightly over 1.1 million hectares in 2014/15, the USDA has noted in a release.

However, pear prices began to pick up mid 2013-14, and recovering pear prices, especially for new varieties, have triggered farmers in the northern provinces of China to replace existing varieties with new varieties like Huangguan. The early mature variety Huangguan pears were sold at RMB 5.44 per kilo at farms in early August, up 20 per cent from the previous year.

The USDA has noted that during 2013-14, China’s pear exports dropped by 27 per cent because of abnormally cold spring weather in the northern producing provinces that reduced exportable supplies. Indonesia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong were the top destinations for Chinese pear.

However, with market access granted early 2013, the United States became the largest supplier of pears to China. China’s pear imports are forecast to increase by 20 per cent to 6,000 MT between July 2014 and June 2015, on strong demand for US pears, the USDA has reported. During 2013-14, the United States held approximately 80 per cent of the import market share.

US pears called Red Anjou, Green Anjou, Bartlett, Starkrimson and Bosc are the major varieties available in the market. Among these, Red Anjou and Green Anjou are the top sellers in China. Despite being a new market entrant, US pears have captured 60 per cent of the import market, notes the USDA.

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