Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Solid growth in Russian citrus market
The Russian citrus market keeps on steadily growing, which is confirmed by an annual increase in imports of oranges, lemons and mandarins. According to Federal State Statistics Service of Russia, the country imported 1.6 mln tons of citrus fruits in the season 2012/13, an increase of a third from the season 2008/09.
Oranges have reduced their share in total citrus imports from 35% to 31% over that period. Lemons accounted for lower share too: 16% five seasons ago against 13% in the season 2012/13. At the same time, mandarins acquired wider popularity, and their share has grown from 42% to 47% over the past 5 seasons.
Turkey is still the largest citrus exporter with average share of about a quarter in Russia's total imports. Egypt has improved its position over the past 5 years. In the season 2008/09, that country was just the fifth largest exporter of citrus fruits to Russia. However, Egypt ranked already second in the season 2012/13 and pushed Morocco and South Africa aside.
It should be also noted that Russian supermarket chains have paid more attention to expansion of their citrus assortment with exotic categories in the recent years. In particular, the demand for blood oranges has been rapidly growing; and, for the present, those oranges are available in almost all large retail chains of the Russian megalopolises.
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.