Russian Fruit Market

Ukrainian growers to be in better position to export apples in 2013/14

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Ukrainian growers will be in better position to export apples in the season 2013/14. Negative production forecasts in Poland and Moldova (main competitors of Ukraine in the Russian apple market) and lower yields expected in Russian apple orchards will be the key factors to improve international trade in Ukrainian apples in the season 2013/14.

At the same time, despite a probability of a decrease in total apple supply in Russia, Ukrainian apples’ competitiveness will be backed only by good quality to price ratio. For the present, export prices of Ukrainian apples vary between EUR 0.33-0.47/kg, which is almost similar to the price levels in the mid-August 2012.

Source: www.fruit-inform.com

Russia: record high imports of Italian grapes in 2012/13

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Despite a slight decrease in Russia’s total grape imports in the season 2012/13, Italy managed to export more grapes to the Russian Federation.

Italy’s grape exports to Russia rose by 60% year-on-year and amounted to 16,000 tons, the highest result over the past 5 seasons.

An increase in exports enabled Italy to improve its position in Russia’s grape import geography. In the season 2012/13 Italy ranked eighth, while a season before the country was the tenth largest exporter of grapes to Russia.

Source: www.fruit-inform.com

India more than doubles grape exports to Russia

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India keeps on raising grape exports to the Russian Federation, according to the official statistics. In particular, India shipped record high 16,000 tons of grapes to Russian in the season 2012/13, 2.3 times of exports in the previous season.

An increase in exports enabled India to improve its position in Russia’s grape import geography. India became the seventh largest exporter of grapes to the Russian Federation in the season 2012/13, while a season before the country ranked just twelfth.

Besides Russia, India also actively export grapes to the EU countries, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Source: www.fruit-inform.com

Russia significantly reduces pear imports

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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

Ukraine loses ground in Russian apple market

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Ukraine has been reducing apple exports to the Russian Federation for the fourth season in a row. Despite high production in the season 2012/13, Ukraine exported just 17,000 tons of apples to Russia, a decrease of 32% year-on-year and the lowest result ever. For comparison, Russian importers purchased 25,000 tons of Ukrainian apples in the season 2011/12.

Ukraine’s apple exports fell due to Russia’s accession to the WTO, which had led to lower import duties on European produce. In connection with that, Ukrainian apples’ competitiveness in the Russian market has sharply decreased.

In such a way, Ukraine ranked just tenth in Russia’s total apple imports in the season 2012/13. The Russian Federation still remains the main export market for Ukrainian apple suppliers.

Source: www.fruit-inform.com

China keeps on reducing apple exports to Russia

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China continues to reduce apple exports to the Russian Federation, according to the official statistics.

Russia imported just 118,000 tons of Chinese apples in the season 2012/13, a decrease of 9% year-on-year. For comparison, in the season 2011/12 China’s apple exports to the Russian Federation reached 129,000 tons. Over the past five years, Russia’s imports of apples from China have fallen by 41%.

However, despite lower exports, China has ranked third in apple exports to Russia for the third year in a row.

Source: www.fruit-inform.com

A decrease of 25% in Uzbekistan’s grape exports to Russia

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Uzbekistan reduced grape exports to the Russian Federation by a quarter in the season 2012/13. Exports reached just 47,000 tons, the lowest result in the past 5 seasons.

A decrease in exports was registered in almost all major grape suppliers of Russia with Turkey being an exception and maintaining its export levels. At the same time, despite a decrease in shipments, Uzbekistan still ranked second in grape exports to Russia with the share of 12%. The country has been the second largest exporter for the fifth season in a row.

Russian Ministry of Agriculture changed the law on organic food production

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In Russia, there is still no legal concept of an “organic product” and its standards. For several years, the bill consideration was delayed, but in the fall 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture finished the bill after appeals of farmers that produce organic food. In the version of the project, published in November, it was said that agricultural products would be called organic or bio, corresponding to the Russian or foreign certification systems; and that certification would be valid for 5 years.

In the new version of the project, it is said that separate registration is required for each type of organic product products. The registration term is 3 years. As for the labeling of products that will meet the requirements of the law, only the term “organic” must be used.

Only those producers who have passed state registration, may get special state support.

There will be a system of fines for those who will violate the law. Legal entities will pay fines of 20,000-30,000 rubles (470-700 euros) for violation of organic food production, for violation of state registration – 5,000-10,000 rubles (120-230 euros), for illegal use of the brand “organic” – 30,000-40,000 rubles (700-940 euros), with confiscation of the all false branded items.

Source: www.freshmarket.ru

Low apple prices in Poland despite a decrease in EU production

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Despite lower apple production in the EU and, correspondingly, lower stocks, apple prices in Poland in the end of the season 2012/13 were averagely 32-33% lower year-on-year. Average prices over the season were 25% lower compared with the previous result.

Polish apple growers had to reduce their prices due to record high apple production in the country, which, correspondingly, led to larger stocks of apples during the season. Polish apple stocks amounted to 56,000 tonnes as at June 1, 2013, an increase of 4% from the same period of the previous year. Furthermore, Poland was the only country in the EU with larger stocks year-on-year: Italian stocks were 30% lower, French stocks decreased by 55%, and Italian apple stocks fell by 65%.

However, despite that, the Russian Federation still remained the main export market for Polish apples, while the demand for them in the EU was low. Furthermore, Russian apple production was rather high too, which intensified competition in Russia and also exerted pressure on prices.

Source: www.fruit-inform.com

Moldova doubles apple export to Russia over 5 seasons

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According to Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, Russia doubled imports of Moldovan apples over the past 5 seasons. In the first 11 months of the season 2012/13, Moldova exported 166,000 tonnes of apples to Russia, while in the same period of the season 2008/09 Moldovan exports had amounted just to 82,000 tonnes.
Five seasons ago, Moldova was just fifth largest exporter of apples to the Russian Federation. Currently, this country ranks second and is behind only China.
In the current season Moldova accounted for the share of 13% in Russia’s total apple imports despite a decrease of 11% in exports in the first 11 months of the season.
Source: www.freshplaza.com