Russian importers do not want to work with Ukrainian apples due to their high prices. Ukrainian apples are offered averagely at EUR 0.70-0.75/kg in Russia . At the same time, sufficient quantities of Serbian and Moldovan apples of comparable quality are offered at EUR 0.60-0.65/kg in the Russian market. Large wholesale lots of high-quality apples from Poland are sold at the same prices. In addition, every year, a high import duty on the EU apples currently in force in Russia is reduced 2 times on January 1 that traditionally increases the pressure on prices.
In Ukraine, current prices for apples are 15-20% higher year-on-year. Ukrainian farmers plan to start their sales of high-quality apples only since the mid-December. Those farms that are selling apples from storage offer their produce at prices not lower than EUR 0.59-0.68/kg and report of the stable demand in the internal market in the event of such prices. Apples not suitable for storage are offered at last year’s prices: EUR 0.27-0.45/kg.
Source: www.freshplaza.com