Ukrainian farmers in January-March boosted fruit and berry exports by 68% YoY, to $57 million.
“The leaders in the commodity structure of domestic products exports this year were walnuts ($42 million), frozen berries ($10 million), as well as apples and pears ($5 million),” the press service of the Ukrainian association of gardening and small fruit growing, Ukrsadprom, said.
As reported, exports of frozen berries alone decreased both volume- and revenue-wise among said product groups. Walnut exports over the period under review increased from 7,000 to 13,000 tons, while those of apples and pears soared from 6,000 to 14,000 tons.
Domestic horticulture products are still in greatest demand in the European Union states, providing for about 60% of the Ukrainian exporters’ revenue. Major buyers of Ukrainian fruit and berries in January-March were France ($6.9 million), Turkey ($6.5 million), Poland ($4 million), Belarus ($3.7 million), Greece ($3.5 million), Germany ($2.8 million) and the Netherlands ($2.7 million).
“At the same time, fruit and berry imports to Ukraine in January-March stood at $143 million, mainly the exotic fruit (citrus fruit, bananas, etc.). If we consider only fruit and berries traditional for Ukraine, the total positive balance of foreign trade is estimated at $40 million. We should also note a positive balance in pome fruit trade, which has been negative in recent years,” the press service said. (UNIAN/Business World Magazine)