August 2 2007, 17:27

Ukraine reduces watermelon export

The watermelon and melon season started quite successfully in Ukraine - the products entered the markets two weeks earlier than the usual annual terms; moreover, the price was reasonably low. But, the untypical trends are observed in the middle of the season. At the present moment the supplies of watermelon and melon started to decrease, and the product quality is far from being desired.

According to information provided by ""Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" weekly" experts, at the present moment the sales price for watermelon on EXW terms jumped up to $0.8-0.16/kg. The wholesale prices for watermelon have already reached $0.26/kg. Melon is sold for $0.2-0.3/kg on EXW terms in the South of Ukraine; the price is $0.4-0.5/kg in Kyiv. It is interesting to mention that the prices for melon and watermelon do not differ much yet from the prices recorded at the same date in 2006. However, please take into consideration the fact that the season sifted approximately two weeks ahead this year.

The situation had an immediate impact on the activities of the companies specialized on watermelon supplies to CIS countries; they faced the difficulties to form export-size shipments, so the supplied volumes had to be reduced.

To the producers' opinion, the price growth for watermelon is temporary: the supply of early watermelon varieties declined, the harvesting of the late varieties has not started yet. At the same time, few in number growers of medium watermelon varieties inform that these varieties have suffered more than others because of drought and hot weather. These circumstances deteriorated the yield and the quality of watermelons. Also, the producers say, it is almost impossible to sell poor quality watermelon for any price.