September 27 2007, 18:29

Commercial apples continue going expensive in Ukraine

According to information provided to the specialists of CIS produce business periodical, "Agrooglyad: Fruits and Vegetables" weekly, the prices for commercial apple continue increasing on the territory of Ukraine. As of today, the processors set the purchase prices varying $0.13-0.24/kg. The processors are able to purchase apples from the population by small shipments for minimal prices; however, the needed volumes for smooth processing process can hardly be formed this way. Large apple shipments enter markets for $0.18-0.24/kg. To the opinion of the representatives of the national processing industry, the price growth for raw materials is initiated by large market players. For example, as of today, the purchase prices of LLC Sandora have already reached $0.24/kg; the further price growth is possible on the background of the gradually reduced volumes of non-contracted apples on market. At the same time, the enterprises of the limited processing capacity consider the price $0.2/kg as unaffordable; in this regard some processors have to suspend purchase process at the present moment. The larger enterprises continue purchasing raw materials for the price range $0.19-0.24/kg. It is worth mentioning that at the same period of time past year the purchase prices for commercial apple were $0.06-0.16/kg despite the poor harvest in the farms.

The experts of "Agrooglyad: Fruits and Vegetables" think that such a significant price growth for commercial apple may be predetermined by a great demand from the side of the producers of juice and concentrate. This year the demand for concentrate has noticeably increased both on the inner market and in the EU countries; the prices for apple concentrate have already reached 1800-2000 €/ton. Also, Polish processors are trying to compensate the lack of raw materials on the inner market by means of apples of Ukrainian origin at the present moment; that's why many farms in Ukraine are actively exporting their products now.

You can find out the details of the perspectives of the national apple market during the fourth international conference "Fruits and Vegetables of Ukraine 2007. Meeting New Leader", to be held on the 4th-6th of December 2007 on the territory of the National Complex "Expocenter of Ukraine" in Kyiv. You can fill in the application form for the participation in the event here.