Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Ukraine for the first time exports significant volumes of potatoes to EU and Central Europe
According to Fruit-Inform, the EU and Balkan countries for the first time actively imported Ukrainian potatoes in the season 2012/13. The importers were represented by Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania and Bulgaria. Their cumulative share in Ukraine's potato exports amounted to 23%. The rest was shipped to the CIS countries (Moldova and Russia mainly, which accounted for the cumulative share of 70%, or 3,800 tonnes of ware potatoes).
Despite first significant exports beyond the CIS countries, Ukrainian exporters should not be too hopeful. Exports to the Balkan states (inclusive of the EU members) were possible thanks to too high prices and crop failure in the region as well as in the main potato producing countries in the EU.
Despite record high exports in the season 2012/13, Ukraine still ships for export about 0.1% of all harvested potatoes or about 0.5% of commercial potato production, which has no special impact on the internal market. Higher exports are impossible due to lack of handling and packaging lines in Ukraine and relatively low quality of grown potatoes.
We would remind you that more information about current developments and future prospects in the Ukrainian and Russian fruit and vegetable markets is available for subscribers of Fruit-Inform Weekly service package.