The full report Prognosfruit 2011 was presented in Slovenia, which details the projected harvest of non-EU countries in the northern hemisphere. Russia projects an apple harvest around 1.9 mln tons, reflecting a growth of 4% compared with last season. In absolute terms this growth translates into about 80,000 additional tons in the market.
Russia annually imports an average of 1.3 mln tons of apples, mainly from Europe (EU 15).The southern hemisphere supplies Moscow and St. Petersburg with more than 100,000 tons per year, a volume that varies with existing domestic crops.
Pear production is estimated at 50,000 tons, a decline of 9% over the 2010 season.
Last year Moldova exported nearly 180,000 tons of apples to Russia and hopes that this volume is maintained this season, despite the projected decline in production.
Ukraine is also becoming one of the largest suppliers to Russia and it is expected to export about 150,000 tons of apples this year, taking into account that the harvest will increase by 15% and exceed for the first time one million tons.
The good quality that is expected for the Polish apple harvest also anticipates a possible increase in the share of trade in fresh apples and this would also open the door to increased exports to Russia.
Source: www.freshplaza.com