Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Ukraine to significantly increase fresh fruit and vegetable exports to EU
Ukrainian exporters’ plans on fresh fruit and vegetable exports to the EU are rather serious for the year 2017. According to Shuvar Wholesale Market, almost all companies with the export experience in the past year plan to raise their exports to the EU countries.
Traders see the highest export potential in the sector of greenhouse vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers in particular) as well as in the sector of early cabbage, aubergines and zucchini.
As regards long-term prospects, some companies are to start exporting garlic, sweet potatoes and asparagus, which are of high attention of companies with the plans to invest in the agricultural projects in the nearest years.
Among fruit and berry categories, the highest demand in the EU will be shown for Ukrainian cultivated and wild blueberries and currants. Melon and watermelon exports are also expected to grow.
We would remind you that Ukraine has significantly increased fresh fruit and vegetable exports to the EU in 2016 compared with a year before. Early cabbage exports more than quadrupled, shipments of bell peppers more than tripled, cucumber exports doubled, and tomato shipments were 50% higher. The most significant increase in the Ukrainian exports of fruits and berries to the EU was observed in the blueberry segment, and blueberry exports were 4 times as high as in 2015. Meanwhile, watermelon exports fell by a third, while shipments of Ukrainian melons to the EU took just a fifth of last year’s volumes.