Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Apple consumption to grow in Russia thanks to WTO accession
Russia's accession to the WTO will lead to higher apple consumption in the country. Such a conclusion was drawn by Fruit-Inform's analysts when conducting the study “Apples of Ukraine & Russia – 2012: Present Situation and Prospects in Growing, Storage, Post-Harvest Handling, Processing and Marketing”. We would remind you that Russia must lower its import duties on most fruits and vegetables starting from August 23 according to the WTO requirements. As regards apples, the import duties on them will allegedely be almost halved.
“Thanks to lower import duties, the total supply of apples will grow in Russia. Moreover, apples will be more affordable for Russians that may lead to higher consumption of this fruit in the country”, Mrs. Tetiana Getman, Head of Fruit-Inform, said. At the same time, larger share of imported produce in the Russian apple market will be a serious challenge for domestic producers, however there is no reason for panic.
“After Ukraine's accession to the WTO, many were sure that the Ukrainian fruit and vegetable sector will not avoid a recession. Bankruptcy was predicted primarily for apple producers, as import duties on apples were reduced almost to zero according to the WTO requirements. However, to the contrary, in the following 4 years, apple production was rapidly developing in Ukraine. Moreover, we should not forget that the Ukrainian apple market is averagely three times as less as the Russian one, therefore Ukrainian producers had to apply efforts to develop exports. As regards Russian farmers, they still have ample opportunities within the country”, Mrs. Getman noted.
More information about changes in the alignment of forces on the apple markets in Russia and Ukraine in this season taking into account Russia's entry into the WTO will be presented at the 2nd International Conference “Apple Business of Ukraine & Russia – 2012”.
The event sponsored by Fito-Mag and Bayer CropScience will be held on August 9-10, 2012, President Hotel, Kiev, Ukraine. To register your participation, please fill out an application form available here.
For more information about the conference, please follow this link, or contact International Relations Department of Fruit-Inform:
Ievgen Kuzin
phone: +380 (562) 321595, ext. - 341
cell: +380 96 5836323
email: [email protected]