Ukraine lowers frozen blueberry exports
In the first 8 months of the season 2011/12, Ukraine's frozen blueberry exports fell by 20%. According to Fruit-Inform, a negative trend in the Ukrainian blueberry industry is observed for the first time in the past 5 years, as Ukraine's blueberry exports have been growing averagely by 15-20% each season since 2007.
However, in the current season, Ukrainian blueberries sharply lost their competitive ability in the EU market due to high prices for raw produce. Last year's harvest was not successful that resulted in sharply higher purchasing prices for raw produce. In early July 2011, procurement centers started purchasing blueberries at EUR 1.90-2.20/kg. Closer to the end of the season, prices grew to EUR 2.80-3.30/kg. In such a way, processing enterprises had to purchase blueberries at prices twice as high as in 2010.
As a result, many processors gave up processing blueberries at all thinking it would be rather difficult to sell produce to the EU market. In addition, wild blueberries have been rapidly losing their ground in the global market yielding to cultivated berries.
At the same time, Ukraine has been actively developing its production of cultivated blueberries in the past few years.
More detailed information about prospects of the global market for frozen blueberries and other berries will be available for participants of the 3rd International Conference “Berries of Ukraine – 2012: Frozen Produce & Fresh Market”.
Would you have any questions regarding participation in the conference, please, contact International Relations Department of Fruit-Inform:
Mr. Ievgen Kuzin
phone: +380 (562) 321595, ext. - 341
cell: +380 96 5836323
email: fruit.intl@fruit-inform.com.