September 1 2006, 11:27

Wholesale prices for Ukrainian apples are twice as high comparing to the previous year

According to data of wholesale price monitoring on KOPANI wholesale market (Kherson oblast), average prices for nationally grown apples ($ 0.58/kg) are twice as high than a year ago.

Apple prices in Ukraine are also significantly higher than in Poland where the wholesale price for the same commodities is not higher than $ 0.39/kg.

Now the market players explain this situation by modest shipments of apples coming to market because of late fruit ripening observed this year.

According to information, the orchardists of the South of Ukraine, in particular Odesa oblast, expect lower yield this year than in 2005. This fact will undoubtedly influence local prices which are unlikely to decline down to the past year level. While apples are ripening in the northern regions, the price dynamics for apples will be more determined by apple production in the traditionally leading apple producers - Vinnitsa, Khmelnitskiy, Lviv, Donetsk and Dnepropetrovsk oblasts. The import of inexpensive apples from Moldova will play its part as well.