Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Ukraine import of tomato paste sharply increased
According to AMP, in the current year the import of tomato paste to Ukraine sharply increased. During the first 9 months of 2005 г. 23,700 tons of this commodity were imported to Ukraine, which is by 2.7 times surpasses the volume of this commodity import during the 9 months of 2004. In addition, this is by 39% more than overall annual import of 2004 г.
AMP analysts claim, an increase of tomato paste import to Ukraine was caused by a sharp cutback in tomato production in 2004 due to mass disease of phitophtorosis. Also in the current year an import duty for tomato paste was decreased which facilitates importing this commodity for less cost.
Another problem is high production cost of tomato in Ukraine as compared with other countries since in this country tomato processing into paste is mechanized only in a few farms. In addition, not every processing facility in Ukraine is prepared to accept tomatoes harvested by mechanical means. Therefore some Ukrainian enterprises both tomato paste producers and consumers joined the opinion that beginning from 2005-2006 it will be more beneficial to import tomato paste rather than to produce it in Ukraine, because the price for tomato in Ukraine is so high the purchasing and processing tomatoes in Ukraine become economically unfeasible.
More details on perspective development of fruits and vegetables produce in Ukraine can be learned during 2nd International conference "Vegetables and Fruits of Ukraine-2005", which will take place on December 5-7, 2005 in Kyiv in "Expo Center" National Complex.