December 17 2012, 12:30 Fruit-Inform

Ukraine reduces table grape exports

Ukraine's table grape exports have decreased three times over the past 5 years. In the previous season, Ukraine exported only 34 tonnes of these fruits. The lowest export volumes were registered in the season 2010/11: just 18 tonnes.

Exports always accounted for a small share in the Ukrainian table grape distribution balance. Nevertheless, in the season 2008/09, Ukraine's exports reached 200 tonnes.

Fruit-Inform experts connect a sharp decrease in exports with the growing internal market for these fruits, as imports currently cover up to 65-70% of the internal demand for table grapes in Ukraine. In addition, there are only several large Ukrainian growers able to ship high-quality table grapes for export regularly. Most often, average size of Ukrainian table grape farms is 1 ha with the majority of growers carrying out no elementary table grape post harvest handling procedures (the main condition for export).