Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Ukraine: frozen sour cherries in short supply
Frozen sour cherries are in short supply in the current season in Ukraine. According to Fruit-Inform, the situation is connected with lower sour cherry production in Poland which is the main exporter of frozen sour cherries to Ukraine. Polish analysts estimate Polish sour cherry production at 155,000 tonnes in 2012 that is 11% lower year-on-year.
In addition, Ukraine's domestic sour cherry production fell too. According to Fruit-Inform analysts' data, the crop was 7% lower year-on-year and reached just 160,000 tonnes.
Due to smaller production, raw sour cherries became more expensive both in the internal and external markets that, in its turn, affected prices of frozen produce. Frozen sour cherries are currently offered at UAH 35-39/kg (EUR 3.29-3.66/kg) in Ukraine. In the same period of the previous season, sales were conducted at UAH 28-32/kg (EUR 2.63-3.00/kg). Moreover, the market participants expect positive price performance to be in effect in the market by the end of this season.
It should be noted that Ukraine's frozen cherry import geography broadened in the season 2012/13, as Ukrainian processors had to compensate limited supply of Polish frozen sour cherries by imports from Hungary. Ukraine's cumulative imports of frozen sour cherries reached 561 tonnes in the first 5 months of the season that was 22% higher year-on-year. Moreover, imports in November 2012 were 5 times higher compared with the result of the same month in the previous season.
We would remind you that more detailed information about the Ukrainian and Russian markets for frozen produce is available in the fundamental study “The Market for Frozen Fruits, Berries and Vegetables of Ukraine and Russia – 2012”.
To order the study or know more about it, please contact International Relations Department of Fruit-Inform:
Ievgen Kuzin
phone: +380 (562) 321595, ext. - 341
cell: +380 96 5836323
email: [email protected]