The 2025/26 European apple season is unfolding like a landscape that shifts slowly with the seasons: no abrupt shocks, but with clear signals of where the market is heading.
The latest update from the European Commission Panel (26 March) outlines a sector recovering its production levels, managing abundant stocks, and relying on trade—both within and outside the EU—as a decisive engine to maintain momentum. Altogether, this creates a fragile balance, sustained by the sector’s ability to handle available volumes without losing value.
A calm price market, full of contrasts
At first glance, prices appear to have settled into an almost unchanging calm. In February, the EU average stands at €85.2/100 kg, virtually the same as in January and slightly above the five‑year average. But a closer look reveals that this stability is only surface‑deep.
France remains at the top of the board with €125.1/100 kg, while Italy maintains its usual firmness around €103/100 kg. Poland, at €64.3/100 kg, operates at low but surprisingly solid levels compared with its five‑year average. And Germany, at €48.5/100 kg, marks the lower end of the range, reflecting a more pressured domestic market.
Varietal performance adds nuance: Gala remains stable in Western countries, while Golden Delicious shows a flatter trend and greater sensitivity to stock pressure, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Club varieties continue to grow, but still do not shift the overall European market.
Production breathes again
After a shorter 2024, European production is regaining strength. The 2025 estimate reaches 11.27 million tonnes, a +7.8% year‑on‑year increase that brings the continent back to pre‑decline levels.
But the recovery is far from uniform. Some countries are experiencing real rebounds: Czechia (+225%), Austria (+84%), and Germany (+30.5%). Poland, Europe’s powerhouse, adds +19.1%. Meanwhile, others face severe declines, such as Hungary (–51.5%) or Lithuania (–90%).
In terms of varietal distribution, the fundamentals remain unchanged: Golden Delicious and Gala continue to be the backbone of European production, accompanied by Idared, Red Delicious, Jonagold, and Cripps Pink.
Abundant stocks setting the market’s rhythm
European cold stores hold between 4 and 4.5 million tonnes from December to February, levels very close to the five‑year average. These are not excessive volumes that threaten to overflow the market, but they are high enough to restrain any upward price movement.
As of 1 February, Golden Delicious exceeds one million tonnes in stock, while Gala is close to 800,000. The pace of stock release is slower than last year during the early months of the season—an indicator the market is watching closely. The speed of destocking will be decisive to avoid tensions in spring.
Intra‑EU trade that never stops moving
If European apples are known for anything, it is their ability to circulate. By February, intra‑EU trade reached 1.324 million tonnes, above both last season and the five‑year average.
This dynamism confirms a deeply integrated market, where flows compensate for regional surpluses and deficits, and where some countries consolidate their role as true logistical and re‑export hubs.
Expanding exports: the EU steps firmly beyond its borders
The 2025/26 season is proving particularly active in exports. Up to February, the EU has shipped 652,732 tonnes, with strong year‑on‑year growth during the key autumn and winter months.
The destinations speak for themselves:
- Egypt surpasses 115,000 t.
- The United Kingdom and Brazil each approach 70,000 t.
- Saudi Arabia and India maintain solid momentum.
Geographical diversification—built over years—stands out as one of the sector’s major strengths.
Contained imports: a good harvest reduces the need for external fruit
Apple imports from third countries remain very low. By February, the total stands at 108,593 tonnes, far below both last season and the five‑year average.
The sharpest drops occurred in January and February, with declines of 44% and 47%, respectively. The explanation is simple: internal availability is sufficient, and the market does not need to rely on the Southern Hemisphere to complete supply.
A balance that holds, but demands precision
The season advances with a combination of factors that, for now, keep the market orderly: recovered production, contained prices, dynamic trade, and high but manageable stocks.
But the balance is fragile. The key in the coming months will be managing available volumes without eroding value, especially in varieties most present in storage. Domestic demand shows no signs of expansion, and competition in international markets will remain intense.
The European sector enters the second half of the season with a clear roadmap: move product intelligently, sustain value, and prevent stocks from becoming a burden. If it succeeds, the 2025/26 season may close with the sense of having navigated a complex year with notable solvency.
