In 2017/18 apples exports from Ukraine tripled

The total export of apples from Ukraine in MY2017/18 increased 3.2 times and exceeded 40 thou. tons, ukrainefood.org informs.

For the first time since the embargo on the supply of fruit to Russia had been imposed, Ukraine exported more than 40 thou. tons of apples and this means that the Ukrainian apples can compete on quality in much more demanding markets than Russian.

It is forecasted that in the new season Ukraine will have a record harvest of premium quality apples.

"For over a year, our association has been actively working on promoting our apples in the markets of Southeast Asia with the support of FAO and EBRD and getting ready to export significant volumes of products to more countries. We estimate export prospects in MY2018/19 at 100-140 thou. tons, but we understand that it will be difficult to achieve such volumes since we have little experience in organizing the system export of apples to distant countries, and the EU market this the year will be saturated," comments the Head of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association Fedor Rybalko.

According to the forecasts, the prices for apples will be noticeably lower than in MY2017/18, and the price for apples in Ukraine may drop to a record low level.

Export of apples from Ukraine in H1 of 2018 reached 24 thou. tons, having increased 3.9 times as compared with H1 of 2017. This brought Ukraine USD 8,2 thou. of foreign exchange earnings, which is 5.3 times more than in 2017.