Core Viewpoint - The apple futures market is experiencing a transition period with rising prices for new season apples while old season apples are facing declining prices due to various market dynamics [1][2][4]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - As of the latest close, the main contract AP2510 is priced at 8124 yuan/ton, showing a slight decrease of 0.23% [1]. - The market is currently in a critical transition phase between the end of the old season apple inventory and the upcoming harvest of late-maturing Fuji apples [1]. - The prices for early-maturing apples, particularly the paper-bag Gala variety, are significantly higher than the same period last year, with increases of 0.3 to 0.4 yuan per jin [2]. Group 2: Price Trends - The weighted price for high-quality apples in Shandong has dropped to 3.73 yuan/jin, a decline of 0.41 yuan/jin (9.90%) since early July [1]. - The old season apples are primarily concentrated in Shandong, with other regions having minimal remaining inventory [1]. - The price for early-maturing apples in Gansu's Jingning area has started at 5.0 to 5.3 yuan/jin, which is approximately 1.0 yuan/jin higher than last year [2]. Group 3: Factors Influencing Prices - The decline in old season apple prices is attributed to competition from seasonal fruits like lychee, which has seen a significant harvest this year [2]. - The upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on October 6 is expected to boost demand for new season Fuji apples, further influencing price expectations [4]. - Concerns over the quality of early-maturing apples, including issues with color and size, are leading to increased expectations for the opening prices of late-maturing Fuji apples [4]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Analysts predict that apple futures prices may initially rise before stabilizing, influenced by the demand side as the harvest season concludes [5]. - The market sentiment is leaning towards higher opening prices for late-maturing Fuji apples, potentially exceeding last year's prices by 0.3 to 0.5 yuan/jin [4].