Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Cucumber prices reach new high in Ukraine
Cucumber prices have reached new high in Ukraine this week. According to Fruit-Inform price monitoring, Ukrainian greenhouse farms' prices for cucumbers have grown by 50% over the past weekend and now vary between record high levels: UAH 28-30/kg (EUR 1.41-1.51/kg). It should be noted that cucumber prices have never exceeded UAH 20/kg (EUR 1.01/kg) in November over the past 10 years with the previous record high level registered in 2013.
«A jump in prices in the end of the season was a pleasant surprise for those Ukrainian growers that specialize in cucumber growing with the use of photoculture technology. There are just a few of them in Ukraine, but they always faced problems with sales in November, when Ukraine started importing Turkish cucumbers», says Ms. Tetiana Getman, Head of Fruit-Inform. «The current season is characterized by lack of competition with imports. Imported cucumbers have been uncompetitive in price in the Ukrainian market so far due to the devaluation of the Ukrainian hryvnia. This enabled Ukrainian growers to raise prices even under conditions of Russia's ban on imports of Ukrainian crops».
The Ukrainian market participants said of arrival of first large shipments of Turkish cucumbers this week, and importers' selling prices vary between UAH 26-28/kg (EUR 1.31-1.41/kg). Traders are not interested in further devaluation of the Ukrainian currency. In case of a further decrease in the Ukrainian hryvnia exchange rates, they will be forced to raise prices of imported produce and reduce purchase volumes as a further increase in prices will negatively affect cucumber consumption in Ukraine.
More detailed information about the Ukrainian fruit and vegetable market developments will be presented at the 11th International Conference «Fruits & Vegetables of Ukraine-2014», which is going to be held on December 8-9 in Kiev. The conference will be followed by the 4th International Trade Forum with about 30 Ukrainian retail chains and importers ready to conduct negotiations with fruit and vegetable suppliers on December 10.
Would you have any questions regarding the events, please contact International Relations Department of Fruit-Inform:
tel: +380 562 320795 (ext. - 341)
cell: +380 96 5836323 (Ievgen Kuzin)
e-mail: [email protected]