Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Belarus bursts into top ten global apple importers after accession to Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia
According to Fruit-Inform, Belarus has literally burst into the group of top ten global apple importers within two years of being a member of the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia (CU).
Before entering the CU, Belarus annually imported about 40,000-60,000 MT of apples with a part of them being resold to Russia as Belarusian fruits. However, the country's apple imports have exceeded 100,000 MT already in 2011 (the first year of full membership in the CU). The trend was maintained in 2012, when imports reached 146,000 MT.
Due to active development of domestic horticulture sector in Belarus, which leads to higher supply of local apples, the fact that apple imports have almost tripled over two years cannot be connected with a surge in internal consumption. Imports standing at 146,000 MT mean per-capita consumption of 15.9 kg of apples in Belarus, the country with population of about 9.5 mln people. The figures become even more unreal if we take into account also internal production of 400,000-500,000 MT of apples in Belarus. Even if we assume that at least a third of domestic crop is utilized for fresh consumption, Belarus would become one of the global leaders in per-capita consumption of apples standing at about 30 kg annually. For comparison, per-capita consumption of apples in Ukraine stands at about 9.5 kg per year, and in Russia amounts to about 11 kg.
In such a way, such a sharp surge in apple imports in Belarus can only be connected with the country enjoying its opportunities of full membership of the CU, importing apples at lower duty and then reselling fruits to the Russian Federation.
We would remind you that more detailed information on the Eastern European apple market development, trading outlook and sector opportunities will be presented at the 3rd International Conference “Apple Business of Ukraine & Russia – 2013”, which is to take place on August 15-16, 2013, Donetsk, Ukraine. To take part in the event, please fill out a registration form here.
For more information about the event, please contact Conference Organizing Committee:
Ievgen Kuzin
tel: +7 495 7894419 (Russia)
tel: +380 (562) 321595, ext. - 341 (Ukraine)
cell: +380 96 5836323
email: [email protected]