Author Archives: CrispConsulting

Russian importers do not want to work with Ukrainian apples due to their high prices. Ukrainian apples are offered averagely at EUR 0.70-0.75/kg in Russia . At the same time, sufficient quantities of Serbian and Moldovan apples of comparable quality are offered at EUR 0.60-0.65/kg in the Russian market. Large wholesale lots of high-quality apples from Poland are sold at the same prices. In addition, every year, a high import duty on the EU apples currently in force in Russia is reduced 2 times on January 1 that traditionally increases the pressure on prices.

In Ukraine, current prices for apples are 15-20% higher year-on-year. Ukrainian farmers plan to start their sales of high-quality apples only since the mid-December. Those farms that are selling apples from storage offer their produce at prices not lower than EUR 0.59-0.68/kg and report of the stable demand in the internal market in the event of such prices. Apples not suitable for storage are offered at last year’s prices: EUR 0.27-0.45/kg.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

USDA announced that Russia became the world’s number one importer of apples and pears in the 2010 marketing year, a trend that is likely to continue throughout 2011, as the country trends towards healthy eating. This year, the USDA estimates the fruit hungry nation could import as much as 1.11 million metric tons and 412,000 tons of apples and pears respectively. Despite the magnitude of the country, Russia still depends heavily on imports because it only produces one-third of the fruit it consumes. “Russians are eating more fruit and diversifying the types of fruit they consume due to increasing disposable incomes and a trend toward eating more healthy diets,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its Moscow attaché.

Still, the amount of fruit Russians consume remains much lower than their counterparts in the U.S., Europe, Japan and China. According to the USDA, the typical Russian person consumes only 71 kg of fruit per capita/year while an American would eat 122.5kg per capita/year. But with Russians already consuming 10% more fruit last year, growth rates are certainly alarming. Fruit consumption patterns in Russia vary depending on the part of the country. In smaller cities or rural areas, people tend to eat local produce while city dwellers in Moscow or St. Petersburg eat higher quantities of imported fruit.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

In June-July 2010, Russia became the largest importer of apples and pears in the world with a combined total import volume of 1,521,600 MT. Fruit consumption in Russia is going up, reaching 71 kg per person in 2010. This trend is likely to continue, supported by a trend toward healthy diets in Russia. Russia produces only 30% of the fruit it consumes and therefore relies heavily on imports.

In June-July  2011,  Russian imports of apples and pears are expected to go up slightly and reach 1,115,000 metric tons (MT) and 412,000 MT, respectively. The grape import forecast is around 403,000 MT, slightly lower the 2010 level. The long-term prospects for U.S. apple, pear and grape exports is good given that Russian production is not expected to increase significantly. In the short term, U.S. exports could face challenges based on price because of the weakening of the Ruble since September.

Source: www.freshplaza.com