This could have a downward impact on the final export figures.

The EU last year was a bloodbath for all fruit.

At this time of year, growers focus only on one thing: getting their fruit off the trees in good condition for export markets.

There's so much debt got drawn up from last year's bad returns, another year like that is going to make it difficult for a significant chunk of the industry to survive.

We're hoping they'll rejuvenate the pear market.

The alarming manufacturing figures, the decline in confidence balances across all sectors, and the fall in all the export balances are the most disturbing features of the Q3 results.