Market News

Export of Apricots from Uzbekistan Decreased 6.5 Times in May-June 2021

Written by

According to the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan, in the first half of 2021, the exports volume of apricot amounted to only 8.8 thousand mt worth $ 7.7 million. In the same period last year, the republic exported 6.5 times more – 56.9 thousand mt. Considering that the season for exporting fresh apricots from Uzbekistan to foreign markets lasts three months – from May to July, the above data for the first half of the year can be attributed to two months – May-June. Thus, the exports of Uzbek apricots in May-June 2021 decreased 6.5 times in physical terms compared to the same period last year. However, there is an important note: ​​the exports of apricots from Uzbekistan in 2020 was a record one.

Even without taking into account the record last year, the exports of fresh apricots in May-June 2021 decreased several times compared to the same period in previous years. For example: 5.3 times by 2019, 3.5 times – 2018, 2.2 times – 2017.

The three post-Soviet countries account for 96% of the exports of Uzbek apricot in May-June 2021:

Kazakhstan – 4.0 thousand mt (45% of the total exports volume of fresh apricots);

Russia – 3.1 thousand mt (35%)

Kyrgyzstan – 1.4 thousand mt (16%)

At the same time, 81% of the exports volume of fresh apricots was shipped to foreign markets from three regions of Uzbekistan – Fergana (47%), Tashkent (22%) and Namangan (13%) regions. Accordingly, the total share of the remaining 11 regions of the republic in the exports of fresh apricots was 19%.

east-fruit.com

New Problems for the Moldovan Apples on the Russian Market

Written by

The season of duties exemption for several groups of food products, including fresh fruit supplied from Moldova to the Russian market, expired on March 31, 2021. As a result, according to preliminary estimates of Moldovan traders, they will have to subtract from the current prices for exported apples, depending on their variety and quality, approximately 0.60-0.80 MDL/kg ($0.03-0.04/kg).

For Moldovan trade enterprises, which bought apples at relatively high prices on the local market last autumn for export to the Russian market in spring 2021, this is a rather serious issue. Many exporting traders were already working on the brink of zero profitability in winter this year: the prices for apples in Russia were significantly lower than expected, and the supply volumes were significantly lower than in the same months of previous years.

Producers of apples, especially those of high quality, found themselves in an equally difficult situation. In the absence of customs privileges, the advantages of Moldovan goods are decreasing in the highly competitive Russian apple market, and due to the limited purchasing power, the potential for price growth even for high-quality fruit is apparently exhausted.

According to the estimates of the associations of agricultural producers and traders, by the beginning of April, about 50-60 thousand mt of apples of the 2020 harvest remain in refrigerated warehouses. However, considering their “residual quality”, only half of these apples can be sold on the “fresh market” at best.

east-fruit.com

Fruit Imports to Russia in January 2021 were Marked by a Drop in Supplies of Bananas and Apples

Written by

Fruit imports in January 2021 remained virtually unchanged compared to the same month in 2020, but changes in the import structure were significant.

First of all, attention is drawn to the decrease in the volume of imports of two key items – bananas and apples. Banana imports to Russia fell by 12% to 115 thousand mt, while apple imports fell by 29% to 38 thousand mt in January.

Regarding the structure of Russian fruit imports in January 2021, the sharp increase in mandarin imports should be noted. The main increase in the supply of these citrus fruits was from Turkey, Pakistan, and Georgia. At the same time, the imports of mandarins from Egypt to the Russian Federation fell.

The import of oranges also increased, although not as sharply as the import of mandarins. Egypt became the main beneficiary here and increased supplies by 42% at once, in the same time the supply of oranges from Morocco to Russia fell by half in January 2021. The import of persimmons continues to grow rapidly – in January 2021, Russia imported 37% more of these fruits than in the same month of last year, and the main increase was provided by imports from Azerbaijan and Iran, which almost ousted Turkey from the Russian market.

In terms of countries, Moldova reduced supplies to Russia the most – by more than 30% in January. Moreover, the decline occurred in all key positions, except for fresh plums. Turkey increased its exports by 19%, Egypt – by 20%, Morocco, Azerbaijan, and Iran – by 5%, and Peru – by 30%. The decline in supplies from Ecuador was equal to the volume of the decline in banana imports.

Uzbekistan fell back to 24th place in the ranking of the main suppliers of fruits to Russia in January, having reduced exports by 11% to $2 million compared to last year. Georgia was among the 15 largest suppliers, having increased fruit exports to Russia in January 2021 2.3 times to $5.5 million – it exported almost three times more fruit to Russia than Uzbekistan.

east-fruit.com

Moldovan apple exports far behind compared to 2020

Written by

The Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova has stated that, in January-February 2021, about 28,000 mt of apples were exported from the country. In the same period last year, Moldovan apple export volumes were significantly higher, at almost 54,000 mt.

According to the local organizations of agricultural producers and exporters, in the first half of March 2021, the export of apples to the main markets (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan) has not yet intensified. But the prices started to rise – on average by 0.5-1.5 MDL/kg.

Based on the monitoring of EastFruit, by the beginning of this week, wholesale prices for apples of the Renet Simirenko and Idared varieties ranged from 8.5-11.5 MDL / kg ($0.48-0.65/kg), “Golden Delicious”, “Jonagold” and “Granny Smith”- 10.0-12.5 MDL ($0.57-0.71/kg).

How this situation will develop in April is not yet clear. Optimists believe that in April the Russian stocks of apples will finally run out. Instead of importing Polish and Ukrainian apples through risky channels, Russian traders will consider it a safer option to legally import Moldovan apples of comparable (or, in extreme cases, marginally inferior) quality at a slightly higher price.

Something similar happened last year, when in April supplies of apples from Moldova to Russia increased by 10 thousand mt compared to the previous month – to almost 39 thousand mt. Although in some of the past 5 years, March was the month with the highest export volumes for the Moldovan Apples.

www.freshplaza.com

Shipping Route Launched to Export Egyptian Crops to Russia

Written by

Egyptian shipping company Kadmar Shipping Co. has announced the launch of the Russian Leader Line for transporting Egyptian agricultural crops between Alexandria and Russia. The company said that the line would start shipping citrus, potatoes, grapes, pomegranates and other produce this month.

The shipments will take place via weekly direct sailings between the Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Co. terminal at Dekheila port and the Novorossiysk container terminal on the Black Sea. The inauguration of the Russian Leader Line comes in the wake of cooperation between Egypt and Russia and a presidential directive to increase Egyptian exports.

Russia Lifts Ban on Tomato Imports from Two Uzbekistan Regions

Written by

Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor has again permitted imports of tomatoes from six Uzbek ventures, starting March 3. The imports were approved under the guarantee of the State Inspectorate for Plant Quarantine under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, as well as on the basis of laboratory test results proving the tomatoes from six companies – from the Kashkadarya and Navoi regions- do not have tomato brown rugose fruit virus.

The Russian Federation banned the import of tomatoes from these regions in December 2020, after the tomato brown rugose fruit virus was detected.

www.freshplaza.com

Azerbaijan Plans to Export 88,232 mt of Apples to Russia in 2021

Written by

The volume of apples to be exported from Azerbaijan to Russia in 2021 will amount to 88,000 mt, according to forecasts of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency, the agency has reported.

Thirty-seven local enterprises will be allowed to export apples to Russia as a result of the negotiations held between the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency and Russia’s agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor.

The last round of negotiations was held between the delegation from Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency and Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision in a videoconference format on February 16.

67 Azerbaijani enterprises exported 66,924 mt of apple products to Russia in 2020.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan is a major supplier of fruits and vegetables to Russia.

Rosselkhoznadzor banned the import of Azerbaijani tomatoes and apples on December 10, citing the necessity to “prevent the import and spread” of pesticides to Russia. So far, Russia has lifted the ban on imports of 51 tomato producers and 37 apple producers operating in Azerbaijan.

www.azernews.az

Potatoes and Vegetables in Russia are Significantly More Expensive

Written by

For the first 5 weeks of 2021 in Russia, the average price for potatoes increased by 40% in annual terms: 30.9 rubles/kg ($0.42/kg) versus 22.2 rubles/kg ($0.30/kg) one year earlier. This was reported by Agro.ru with reference to RBC and weekly data by Rosstat.

Carrots have also risen in price during this period by 34% to 37 rubles ($0.50), tomatoes by 20% up to 173.6 rubles ($2.35), cucumbers by 16% up to 175.4 rubles ($2.37), and onions by 10% up to 27.8 rubles ($0.38).

Tatyana Gubina, the head of staff at the Potato Union of Russia, noted that due to the record harvest in 2019, the wholesale price in January 2020 was 10 rubles per kilogram and potatoes were sold at cost. In the current year, the price has increased due to the excess demand versus supply.

The Ministry of Agriculture said that the potato harvest fell by 11.3% in 2020 compared to 2019 and the share of small potatoes also increased. Due to the competition from retailers for large potatoes, the price has increased. The Ministry also said that prices for the products should begin to decline in June when the new harvest arrives on the market.

www.east-fruit.com

Rosselkhoznadzor lifts ban on tomato imports from more companies in Azerbaijan

Written by

Starting today, February 5, 2021, Rosselkhoznadzor will lift restrictions on the supply of tomatoes to Russia from 12 more companies from the Republic of Azerbaijan.

“In order to remove the current restrictions on the supply of plant products, Rosselkhoznadzor together with the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan conducted video inspections of Azerbaijani enterprises for the absence of contamination by the tomato moth (Tuta absoluta Povolny),” reported the Rosselkhoznadzor press service.

In connection with the negative results of the quarantine phytosanitary examination of the samples that were selected as a result of video inspections conducted from January 14 to 29, Rosselkhoznadzor, under the guarantees of the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, allowed the following companies to export tomatoes:

  • AMORIS LLC (Lenkoran region, village Kharkhatan);
  • ALZA HOLDİNQ-1 LLC (Baku city, Nasimi region);
  • BVB Peasant Farm LLC (Sabirabad region, Kurkendi village);
  • H AND M AGRO LLC (Baku city, Yasamal region);
  • Aqroinnova LLC (Baku city, Nasimi district);
  • ARGO LLC (Baku city, Yasamal district);
  • AGRO-LAND-AZ LLC (Khazar district, Mardakan settlement);
  • A-ALYANS LLC (Baku city, Narimanov district);
  • Guliyev Bashir Shain (Baku city, Nasimi district);
  • PARADISE AGRO LLC (Absheron district, Hovsan settlement);
  • T TOMATOES LLC (Khazar district, Zira settlement);
  • Kurdamir Agro LLC (Kurdamir district, the city of Kurdamir).

The ban on the supply of tomatoes and apples to Russia from the Republic of Azerbaijan came into effect on December 10, 2020, after repeated detection of the South American tomato moth (Tuta absoluta) and the eastern moth (Grapholita molesta) in consignments of products supplied to Russia.

Back on December 17, 2020, Rosselkhoznadzor allowed the supply of tomatoes from 4 enterprises in Azerbaijan. A few days later, 3 more companies received permission to export apples to Russia on December 21, 2020.  At the start of the new year, 15 companies in Azerbaijan were added to the list of possible tomato suppliers on January 1, 2021, and on January 25, 2021, restrictions on the supply of tomatoes and apples were lifted from 13 more companies of the Republic.

www.freshplaza.com

Horticulture of Ukraine 2020: Fruit and Vegetable Degradation or Temporary Difficulties?

Written by

The EastFruit team sums up the results for the Ukrainian horticulture business in 2020, which can hardly be considered successful or favorable. Fruit and vegetable imports to Ukraine this year increased by 25% while exports decreased according to preliminary estimates.

The decrease in proceeds from walnut exports due to the decline in world prices for these products became especially noticeable. Revenue from the exports of fresh apples and blueberries also dropped sharply and were not offset by revenue growth from the exports of frozen berries even though their prices on the world market have strengthened significantly.

Imports, on the other hand, increased in almost every product category with the exception of onions. Imports of greenhouse tomatoes, greenhouse cucumbers, and potatoes grew the most. Also, the costs of importing table grapes, lemons, avocados, grapefruits, and persimmons to Ukraine increased by more than 30-40%.

In addition to the deterioration of the horticulture trade balance, one of the main challenges for the fruit and vegetable industry in Ukraine was a sharp change in the distribution channels of products. The sharp decline in sales in HoReCa due to the coronavirus pandemic and the strengthening role of supermarkets forced market participants to reconsider approaches not only to marketing but also to production.

Marketing was also felt the impact due to the lack of exhibitions, conferences, and sharp restrictions on travel opportunities reduced the effectiveness of such efforts.

The most relevant topic that determined the conjuncture of the Ukrainian and world markets is, of course, COVID-19. The coronavirus pandemic, which was initially underestimated by many, quickly became the world’s #1 problem. Ukraine turned out to be practically unprepared for it and the measures taken by the government were sometimes simply shocking and seemingly illogical and inconsistent to market participants. (more…)