Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Ukrainians increase banana consumption
According to Fruit-Inform, Ukraine has been stably increasing banana imports in the past 4 seasons with bananas being the main category of total fruit imports. In the season 2012/13, Ukrainian importers purchased 300,000 tons of bananas, an increase of 17% year-on-year and the highest level ever.
As Ukraine does not produce bananas, a steady rise in imports shows a rapid increase in their consumption in the country. Average annual consumption growth rate amounts to 9.3% in Ukraine, which enables bananas to gradually catch up the sales volumes of apples, a traditional fruit for Ukrainians. Despite still significant difference between those fruits in sales and consumption, the trend is rather alarming for Ukrainian fruit growers.
An increase in the demand for bananas also indirectly shows a growth in Ukrainians' incomes, as average annual retail price of bananas is, nevertheless, lower than apple price, which does not prevent banana consumption from growing. Consumption is also positively influenced by low global prices of bananas. In June, Fruit-Inform wrote that banana consumption was falling in the majority of countries together with an increase in production, and it was Ukraine and Russia that were the only countries raising imports.
Besides apples, bananas also compete with citrus fruits on the Ukrainian supermarket shelves and confidently win that competition thanks to their lower prices compared with oranges, mandarins and grapefruits.
We would remind you that Fruit-Inform offers an opportunity to conduct direct negotiations with fruit and vegetable purchasers representing 90% of the Ukrainian retail sector (all national and key regional chains) as well as leading retail chains in Russia and largest wholesale companies of Ukraine just within one day - November 28, 2013, International Exhibition Center, Kiev, Ukraine, at the 3rd International Trade Forum.
Would you have any questions regarding the event, please contact International Relations Department of Fruit-Inform:
Mr Ievgen Kuzin
tel: +380 (562) 321595, ext. - 341
cell: +380 96 5836323
email: [email protected]