Poland: Apple Prices Drop Amid Record June Stocks and Weak Demand

Poland entered July 2026 with apple farm-gate prices falling and demand at both domestic and export markets weakening, as the country held record-high apple stocks in cold storage.

At the end of June and beginning of July 2026, average farm-gate prices for first-class dessert apples in Poland dropped to approximately €0.34/kg (1.46 PLN/kg), nearly 10% lower than the previous month. Standard varieties saw price declines of 7–9%, reflecting both increased availability and subdued buyer interest. For the Red Jonaprince variety, offers for sorting fell to just €0.26/kg (1.10 PLN/kg) in mid-June, as producers faced pressure to sell after nine months of storage.

Wholesale markets and retail chains reported minimal demand for apples, with trading activity shifting towards seasonal fruits such as cherries and blueberries. The market was burdened by high stocks: as of June 1, 2026, Poland held 227,000 tonnes of apples in storage, the second-largest volume in Europe after Italy. The most abundant varieties in Polish cold stores were Red Jonaprince (67,000 tonnes), Golden Delicious (60,000 tonnes), and Idared (60,000 tonnes).

Despite reduced prices, export interest also weakened. Key export varieties such as Gala and Red Delicious did not experience further significant price drops in June, mainly due to already low supplies and earlier price corrections. However, the overall volume available for export remained high, and shipments to distant markets slowed, further dampening trade dynamics.

Internationally, Polish apples remained more expensive than German apples in May, with the Polish average at €0.59/kg (2.52 PLN/kg) compared to €0.45/kg in Germany, but this price advantage did not translate into higher demand. In some cases, dessert apples from Polish cold stores were redirected to juice production due to limited commercial interest and time constraints.

Talks in late June between Polish officials and a Kenyan delegation highlighted ongoing efforts to diversify apple exports beyond the EU. Kenya is being considered as a new destination for Polish apples, but no concrete trade volumes or prices have been established yet.

Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker