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Italy has an area for cultivation of 23,455 hectares, according to data supplied by the CSO. By regions, Piamonte has recorded a fall of 2% due to the condition of bacteriosis and currently has 4,840 hectares whilst Veneto has increased by 4% and has reached 3,300 hectares. Emilia Romagna has also increased its area and now has 3,340 hectares, which means 2% more than in the previous season, although the figure may fluctuate due to the presence of bacteriosis. In Lazio the forecast is 7,400 hectares, which means an increase of 3%. In the rest of the regions the production potential remains at the same levels as the previous year.

All the forecasts indicate that the commercial volumes for the domestic market could end up being less than those of last year, while the potential for exportation has gone up by 12% in relation to the 2010-2011 campaign, coming to a volume of 461,500 tonnes.

France

In the season 2010-2011, the Gala production reached 65,000 tonnes. In the current campaign higher production figure, an increase of around 1.8% and reaching a total of 70,000 tonnes, is being contemplated.

The cultivated area, which has remained stable for years (4,200 hectares), will reach 4,300 hectares this year.

The French exportations are estimated to be around 30% of its production, but last year there was a turning point as only 21,000 tonnes were exported, 17% less than during the previous season. Spain is the main receiver of these sales, although it is now recording a falling trend, which has undoubtedly been caused by the serious economic crisis that the country is going through. It is followed by Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany. Outside the E.U., the increase of exportations to China has been remarkable, although a slight decrease was registered last year.

France’s own domestic market developed well, with an increase of 6% and reached 84,000 tonnes. However, the first six months of 2011 maintained an opposite trend, with only 46,000 tonnes, which is 16% less than the same period of 2010.

Spain

Spanish production has just over 1,000 hectares of cultivation area at its disposition, which is concentrated in the northern area of the country. From this there are 450 hectares in Galicia and 200 in Asturias. Hayward is still the predominant variety, but there are other varieties which have made an impact such as the Summerkiwi and the Jintao. The development of the latter could come to 50 hectares.

The commercial supply is estimated to be 12,500 tonnes, representing 6% more than the previous campaign. Practically the entire Spanish production is for the domestic market. However, the statistics show a figure of 11,000 tonnes of exportation, which are attributed to imported products that are re-exported.

Greece

Since 2005, the Greek land area for cultivation has kept an increasing trend, going up from 4,500 hectares to more than 6,000 at present. The commercial volumes have also followed the same pattern thanks to progressive first time production in new plots of land. In this campaign, Greek production will be over 90,000 tonnes. Eastern European countries, mainly Russia and Ukraine, are the large receivers of the product.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s production will be 390,000 tonnes on a surface area of 12,500 hectares.

In this country, there has been a decrease with regard to the green fleshed varieties in favour of those having yellow flesh, despite the fact that the former types represent 9,000 hectares compared to 3,000 for the yellow type.

The European market absorbs almost 50% of New Zealand’s sales volumes, followed by Japan with 19% and the Far East with 24%.

The commercialisation of this country in Europe ends around week 47.