March 10 2006, 09:02

Ukraine sharply increased imports of bananas and citrus fruits

Analysts of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" weekly informed that the banana and citrus fruits' imports in January of 2006 where up by 19% compared to the same month of 2005. Growth of imports occurred despite such a negative factors as low apple prices on the Ukrainian market and a dynamical rise in prices for bananas worldwide. January frosts, which complicated distribution of tropical fruits, also had a negative impact on the imports.

According to official statistics of Ukraine, local companies have spent US $12,8 million on imports of bananas and citrus fruits. Imports of mandarins & tangerines and oranges increased most sharply - by 47% & 24% correspondingly compared with January of 2005. Imports of bananas have grown by some 6%, and imports of lemons have declined by 3%.

Ecuador was traditionally the major supplier of bananas to Ukraine accounting for 98% of all imports. Much smaller volumes were imported from Mexico and Costa Rica. Egypt delivered 58% of all imported oranges, while Turkey - 27 %. Small quantities came from Greece (10%) & Spain(5%). Tangerines & mandarins were imported from eleven different countries. Most of them, however, came from Turkey (59%), Georgia (13%), Spain (9%), Pakistan (8%), Egypt (4%), as well as Israel (3%) and Italy (3%). Almost 97% of all lemons imported in January 2006 came to Ukraine from Turkey and only about 3% were shipped from Spain.

According to Andriy Yarmak, senior market information specialist of the Agricultural Marketing Project, imports of bananas are expected to decline further in February 2006 due to a sharp increase in world prices for this product combined with historically low apple prices in Ukraine. Besides, according to Mr. Yarmak, imports of oranges, mandarins and tangerines are also likely to decline.