Last week, the specialists of the Central Laboratory of Russia revealed the poor quality of imported fruit and vegetables of a total weight of 187.2 tons from Turkey, Bulgaria, and from Belgium.
According to the research, 131.6 tonnes of nectarines, peaches, and pears from Spain and France, 55.1 tons of grapes from Turkey and Bulgaria, as well as half a ton of lettuce leaf from Belgium were contaminated with pesticide residues and nitrates.
Source: www.fruit-inform.com
Belgium
Belgium lowers pear exports to Russia
Belgium exported 41,400 tons of pears to Russia in the season 2012/13, a decrease of 40% from the previous season, when imports had reached 68,000 tons, according to the official statistics.
Such a sharp decrease in exports is connected with lower pear production in Belgium in 2012 due to unfavorable weather conditions during blossoming and ripening.
Belgium’s pear production amounted to 221,000 tons in 2012, a decrease of 21% from the previous year.
Source: www.fruit-inform.com
Russia significantly reduces pear imports
According to Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, Russia imported 364,000 tons of pears in the season 2012/13, a decrease of 15% from the previous season and the lowest result over the past 4 seasons. For comparison, pear imports in the season 2011/12 reached record high 426,000 tons.
The peak of imports was registered in March-April. Argentina was the largest exporter of pears to the Russian Federation with the share of 30%. The Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and China also exported significant volumes.
Source: www.fruit-inform.com
Apple prices down
Apple prices on the Russian market have decreased in the first half of the 2012/13 season, as a result of the country’s accession to the WTO and a record-high domestic production. By the end of December 2012, the average wholesale prices in Moscow were 20% lower (year-on-year). In other regions, prices dropped noticeably as well. In the Voronezh region, for example, prices fell by a third. Market participants expect an increase in apple prices however, thanks to higher demand in the past two weeks.
Russia imported approximately 10,200 tons of Chinese pears from July to November 2012, a number almost 10% higher than last year. Experts from Fruit-Inform link an increase in Chinese exports to Russia to a higher pear production in China this season. The highest import volumes were recorded in November (2,800 tons) and the lowest in July (approximately 1,200 tons). China’s share in total Russian pear imports ranged between 5-7% over the past three seasons. Currently, China is the sixth largest exporter of pears into the Russian Federation. Only Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Argentina export more.
Source: www.freshplaza.com
Apple export from Belgium to Russia decreases frightfully
According to statistical data of the Russian federation, Belgium exported 2,800 tons of apples to Russia during the period July to November 2012. That was 37% less than the previous season in this period. The share of the Belgian apple export decreases steadily. This is the result of Russia importing more from other countries. In season 2005/06 Belgium was the fourth biggest apple exporter to Russia with a share of 7%. In the season 2011/12 the country was only number fourteen and the share in the total apple import in Russia was only 1.3%. At the same time it must be mentioned, that the Belgian apple export may still get a place this winter and that volumes will still increase during the remainder of the season.
Source: www.freshplaza.com
Decline in pear imports and production
According to the industry experts, approximately 120 thousand tons of pears have been exported to Russia in the current season. The Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), says this shows a decrease of 13% compared to last year.
The main importers of pears into the country remain Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium. It should be recalled that, in 2012, the fruit production was reduced by one third on average in these countries, thus, the decrease in supply to Russia is quite natural.
The production of pears in Russia itself is decreasing. According to the information provided by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the United States, the fruit harvest in the country was only 110 000 tons – 21 percent less than last year.
Source: www.freshplaza.com