Pome fruit export values from the Argentine Patagonia region rose 35% year-on-year between January and September in 2011, website Fruticulturasur.com.ar reported.

Citing National Food Quality and Safety Service (SENASA) statistics, the story reported the biggest jump was seen for apples, with values rising 37% to US$167.3 million.

The data showed pear shipment values rose 34% to US$399.6 million, with good prices as volumes rose just 19% to 459,016 metric tons (MT). Apple export volumes increased by 31% to 206,634MT during the period.

The story emphasized it was important to note the rise comes off a bad crop year, while the price rises were still below the increases in foreign exchange costs which had led to bankruptcies.

Argentine Patagonia's Alto Valle is the largest pear-exporting region in the world, the story reported.

Brazil was the largest buyer of Argentine pears with 132,400MT, followed by Russia (109,400MT), Italy, the Netherlands and the U.S.

The leading destination for the region's apples was Russia with 58,600MT, followed by Brazil with 48,800MT.

Related story: Argentina: Patagonian pome fruit hit seven-year record

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