Apples

Russia remains the main export market for Polish apples

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Poland, the biggest apple producer and exporter in the EU, has been giving preference to export apples to the Russian Federation for many years.

In the season 2011/12, Poland shipped to Russia almost 500,000 tonnes of apples that accounted for the share of 60% of the total export volume. At the same time, Polish exports to the EU countries were 8 times lower (67,000 tonnes).

Moreover, Poland has almost halved apple shipments to the EU over the past 5 years, while exports to Russia grew by 40% over the same period.

Source: www.fruit-inform.com, www.freshplaza.com

Customs union reduces tariffs for some products

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23 August new import customs duties were introduced, they were changed because of Russia’s accession to the WTO. The first change concerns only 10% of tariffs – mostly duties on meat and dairy products, on fruit and vegetables, as well as cars.

Russia is one of the largest importers of apples and after accession to the WTO import duties on these fruits were significantly reduced. The duty on apples will be 0.06 euro per 1 kg. It will be applied for one year.

At the same time, Russia’s entry into the WTO will not change the import duty on pears, it will remain 10%. In 2015 it will be reduced by 5%.

Import duties on apricots, cherries, plums will remain 5%, and on strawberry – 10%. Also, the zero import duty on nectarines, peaches, kiwi will be kept.

Russia’s accession to the WTO will not change duties on bananas, they will remain 5%, but not less than 0.02 euro per 1 kg. The duty on orange , grapefruit and other citrus fruits will also remain the same – 5%, but not less than 0.02 euro per 1 kg, the same is for mandarins, clementines, and others (5%, but not less than 0.03 euro).

At the same time the duty on lemons and limes will decrease from 5%, but not less than 0.035 euro, up to 5%, but not less than 0.02 euro per 1 kg.

Source: www.retailer.ru

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Gender difference in fruit preference

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Differences between men and women are highly visible even in preferences for various berries and fruits. Sociologists have studied gender based eating differences and the results paint an interesting picture.

It turns out that men are more likely to prefer apples as their favourite fruit, whilst women are likely to go for citrus fruits.

Kiwi fruit and mango are also higher valued by women. For bananas, peaches, pineapples and grapes, both genders agree.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Russian apple production will increase by 8%

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More than 250 representatives of the international apple and pear sector met on the occasion of the 36th Prognosfruit Conference on 3rd August 2012 in Toulouse (France). On this occasion, WAPA (World Apple and Pear Association) released the 2012 European apple and pear crop estimates. The 2012 apple and pear production in the EU will be significantly lower than average given unfavourable climatic conditions in winter and spring across Europe. Apples will decrease by 9% compared to the previous year while pears are estimated to have a lower crop by 22% compared to 2011.

More specifically for apples, the 2012 European crop forecast is announced at 9.739.000T. This production is 7% lower than the average for the last three years. In regard to varieties, Golden Delicious production will be down by 15% to 2.212.000T. Gala will decrease by 6% to 1.070.000T. Red Delicious will decrease by 18% to 555.000T, while Idared will go up 34% given a larger crop in Hungary and Poland. With the exception of Poland which will witness a larger crop (2.8 Million T) due to new plantings, most of the Member States will record lower crops; this will also be reflected in the varieties breakdown.

Regarding pears, European growers predict a significantly lower crop down 22% compared to 2011. Indeed, it is reported that the new season crop will reach 2.060.000T, compared to 2011 production which reached the peak of 2.629.000T. The 2012 forecasted crop is also 17% lower than the average crop of the last three years. In 2012, the Conference variety will see its production decrease by 21% to 743.000T, William BC will decrease by 19% to 255.000T, and Abate F will also decrease by 26% to 284.000T. Elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere crops have also decreased compared to last year, namely in the USA (-7%) and Ukraine (-8%).

Overall, climatic conditions have not been favourable in many parts across Europe during blossom and the  beginning of the growing period of the fruit. Under these particular weather circumstances having their impact on the production, the relevance of transparency of data is important and the effort of Prognosfruit/WAPA in this respect is underlined. The new season is to start according to the normal harvesting schedule on a basis of clear stocks from the last season and no overhang with Southern Hemisphere fruit while there are no pending stocks for apple juice concentrate which should strengthen the market for the benefit of the sector and provide better return to growers after several difficult seasons.

Source: www.fruitnews.ru

Europe’s apple and pear crops down

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Apple and pear production in the European Union will be “significantly lower” than last year and, as reported by Eurofruit last month, the forecast apple crop is set to fall below the 10m-tonne mark for only the third time in a decade.

Publishing the forecasts, the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) said apple volumes would decrease by 9 per cent against the previous year’s figure to 9.74m tonnes, while it estimated the pear crop would be around 2.06m tonnes – 22 per cent lower compared with 2011 and the lowest forecast figure since 1997.

Elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, apple crops are also expected to decrease compared with last year, with a 3 per cent estimated downturn in Turkey and lower output too in the Balkan countries. Russia and Ukraine’s crops, meanwhile, are forecast to increase by 8 per cent and 4 per cent respectively due to new bearing trees. Official data for the US is due to be released in mid-August, but initial indications are that the country’s apple crop will be 15 per cent smaller due to heavy frost in the Midwest region and, to a lesser extent, in the north-east.

Elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, pear crops are also going to be down compared with last year, notably in the US (-7 per cent) and Ukraine (-8 per cent).

Source: www.fruitnet.com

What can we expect for the apples market after Russia’s accession to the WTO?

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According to the WTO agreements, duties for almost all kinds of fruit and vegetable production in Russia will decrease greatly after Russia’s accession to the WTO, while, according to some

unconfirmed information, the duties for apples may become almost two times less.

However, the European exporters comment the advantages of  Russia’s membership in the WTO with caution. Suppliers say that the price will depend on the reference prices, which will be established by the customs. Besides, there are many predictions about the devaluation of the ruble.

Source: www.fruitnews.ru

Argentina: Apple and pear exports drop 30%

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Apple shipments fell by 38% and pear sales to Russia fell by 12%. Regional fruit shipments destined for overseas markets reached 273,300 tons on June 15th. The figure represents a fall of 32% compared to consolidated exports for the same period of last year. This was revealed in a recent study, by the North Patagonian port terminal, in which it is detailed that pear sales overseas reached just over 196,300 tons, 27% lower than what was reached in the same season of 2011.

As for apples, the collapse was even greater. Statistics showed that 72,400 tons were exported, 38% less than last year. The data included information about the regional fruit shipments sent only through the port of San Antonio and Bahia Blanca. However, it is noteworthy that these terminals account for 85% of exports to overseas markets.

The report highlights that for Northern Patagonia, Russia remains the main destination of regional export supply. According to the report, shipments to St. Petersburg reached about 108,000 tons of fruit, of which more than 53,000
were for pears and 24,400 apples.

Note that Russia remains an important destination for valley pears. Shipments this year experienced a drop of only 12% compared with the previous year. It must be noted that the average fall for valley pears bound for overseas stood at 27%.

When analyzing the evolution, that the region has undergone in apple sales to Russia, we see that the drop in shipments in this season is close to 50%. An important figure, given the fact that two years ago Russia imported from Argentina
90% of the apples from the Southern Hemisphere. Today that ratio is 50%.

Bahia Blanca´s port regional fruit Shipments  reached, so far this year, 11,600 tons (5% of the total overseas sales), reflecting a decrease of 7% compared with records from the previous season.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Argentina: Russian market receiving half of pear production

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Statistics provided by Patagonia Norte indicate that, during the first half of the year, overseas pear exports have reached 201,700 tonnes. This figure accounts for 71% of the total fruit exports leaving San Antonio and Bahía Blanca (Argentina) and indicates a 26% fall in sales when compared to the first half of 2011.

Russia was the main client, as approximately 89,000 tonnes were shipped there, meaning that 44% of the total sales were destined for Saint Petersburg. The second largest client was the Netherlands, where 30,200 tonnes of pears were shipped. And the third place was for the US, with 28,200 tonnes.

In regards to apples, overseas exports reached 76,700 tonnes, showing a 36% fall compared to consolidated data from the first semester of 2011.

Russia was also the main destination for this product with 28,700 tonnes shipped, representing 37% of all the exports leaving San Antonio and Bahía Blanca. The second destination in importance was the Netherlands, with 11,600 tonnes purchased. And very close behind Algeria, with 11,500 tonnes of Argentine apples imported.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Russia’s accession to the WTO may be the end of Russian apples

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The last year Russia imported more than 1 million tons of apples. According to the Russian Statistics Service, the domestic crop was only 300 TMT. According to Pavel Grudinin, Lenin Sovhoz director, average consumption of fruit and berries in Russia is 53 kilos per capita (just to compare – in the U.S. it is 127 kg, in France – 135 kg, in Italy – 187 kg). And when Russia joins the WTO, the import of fruit will only grow up, completely replacing the Russian products as P. Grudinin, said at the conference on Russia’s WTO accession in April 2012.

One of the main problems is the high interest rate for the loans which is up to 14-15%. 18% of the agricultural enterprises is unprofitable, said Anatoly Altukhov, Secretary of the Department of Economics of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The facts that a lot of enterprises have loans and the maintenance costs are constantly growing up, only make the situation worse. In 2011, the total credit debt of agricultural organizations was 1.688 trillion rubles, while revenues were 1.215 trillion, so, the credit debt excess was 39%. And without subsidies the agriculture sector is unprofitable or not sufficiently profitable.

Meanwhile, the experts of the Ministry of Economic Development assure that these problems are internal and are not connected with the WTO accession. And, in their opinion, the risks for the agriculture sector after the WTO accession are minimal.

Victor Batanin, Deputy Head of the Department of Trade Negotiations Ministry of Economic Development said that the conditions, on which Russia is ready to join the WTO, are rather good. And it gives Russia more opportunities to protect its inner market compared to other countries. Though no one denies that the potential threats still remain.

Source: www.fruitnews.ru

Argentina: Less apples to Russia

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Argeninian exports of apple to the Russian market reached, about 17,000 tons by May 15.

The number reflects a drop of around 50% regarding consolidated shipments until the 15 of May of last year.

Analysing private statistics shows there’s a growing concern regarding the progressive loss in the market for this species. Looking at exports on the 15 of May of 2008, just four seasons before, we realize this hard reality.

On this date of 2008, the region exported around 54,000 tons of apple to the Russian market. More than three times of what’s traded today in this important destination.

Source: http://www.freshplaza.com