Poland: Apple Prices Drop as Stocks Remain High, Demand Weak

Polish apple prices at the end of the storage season have declined, with farm-gate rates for dessert apples falling to around €0.34/kg (1.46 PLN/kg) in early July 2026 amid large stocks and low buyer demand.

Apple trade in Poland is currently characterised by a significant oversupply and weak demand, both domestically and internationally. At the turn of June and July 2026, the average farm-gate price for first-class dessert apples dropped to €0.34/kg (1.46 PLN/kg), about 10% lower than a month earlier. Standard varieties recorded price declines of 7–9%. Export-focused varieties such as Gala and Red Delicious did not become significantly cheaper in the last month, with their main price corrections having occurred earlier in the season.

The large supply is reflected in storage data: as of 1 June 2026, Poland held 227,000 tonnes of apples in cold stores, making up 22% of all European stocks. The main varieties in storage were Red Jonaprince (67,000 tonnes), Golden Delicious (60,000 tonnes), and Idared (60,000 tonnes). These high volumes have weighed heavily on the market, with sales slowing sharply and growers increasingly diverting dessert apples to processing since mid-June.

Demand for Polish apples has fallen, with both domestic and export buyers reducing purchases. In the wholesale and retail trade, apples have been displaced by seasonal fruits such as cherries and, soon, blueberries. Export orders have also diminished, partly due to high stocks in other European countries and reduced interest from non-EU markets. For example, offers for Red Jonaprince apples for sorting were as low as €0.26/kg (1.10 PLN/kg) in early July.

On the export front, there are ongoing efforts to open new markets, notably in Africa. In late June, Polish officials discussed the potential for apple exports to Kenya with a visiting Kenyan delegation. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan plans to introduce a temporary ban on apple imports from August to December 2026, which will exclude only transit shipments and is intended to support Kazakh domestic producers.

Recent weather events have affected supply in some regions. Severe hailstorms struck orchards in the Sandomierz and Gołębiow areas in early July, causing deep fruit damage in affected blocks. In some cases, up to 90–100% of apples were damaged, with many expected to fall before harvest.

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