Review of the Russian market - week 37

Week 37 was more active than week 36 and it seems this trend will continue further. Cold weather in European part of Russia gave a push to fruit market. Even watermelons reacted on it by going up price to 0,31 $/kg against 0,24 $/kg last week. Melons visa versa dropped further due to poor quality in the end of the season – 0,59 $/kg. This product remained to be the looser in week 38. The importers were trying to be more active than before but majority of the market was occupied by local production. Citrus situation would be probably more optimistic later due to little volume of arrivals for next week and further – 2 500 pallets only for week 38 although in week 37 Russian market received 11 500 pallets, mostly from South Africa. China expanded it’s pressure to Siberian part of Russia with more varieties and larger volumes. The short demand in Ural region in the beginning of the week was quickly satisfied by traders so the general situation was more or less stable all over the country.

OrangesAttempts of importers to raise up the prices till so far didn’t meet success. The situation with oranges was better in Moscow than in Saint-Petersburg. 0,94 $/kg was the price level for I cat. RSA fruit in sizes 64-72 against 0,84 $/kg for the same stuff accordingly. Argentine oranges were under 0,70 $/kg even in Moscow effected by large quantities arrived to the market during last month.

LemonsThe lemons eventually lost 0,08 $/kg due to some extra arrivals in week 37 – 0,92 $/kg was price level of this week. It seems that it wouldn’t last too long if quality of Argentine lemons will be kept on the same reasonable level as nowadays. Turkey might start with it’s lemons in the end of week 38 already. It’s earlier this season than in 2006.MandarinsSound mandarins could be sold on 1,50 $/kg in week 38. GrapefruitsSales of Argentine grapefruits were not active whereas South African fruits were in demand despite of price difference which became larger than last week : 1,32 $/kg against 1,58 $/kg accordingly.ApplesThe majority of apples on the market was local fruits. They had price from 0,63 $/kg up to 0,79 $/kg where Moldavian prices started which quality was better than local but far from perfect. The best variety from Moldova was Prima – 0,99 $/kg. The quality stuff with the lowest price was Serbian – from 1,185 $/kg. First European apples stay on expensive 1,75 – 1,80 $/kg level. Fresh Italian Granny looked in Moscow definitely better than French ones.PearsThe regions were more actively consuming pears in week 37 than Moscow and Saint-Petersburg where the local stuff was presented in larger volumes. In general, due to presence of many varieties on the market pears were on of the bestseller this week. Prices went slightly down for about 0,05 – 0,06 $/kg for all the varieties in comparison with last week.GrapesThe consumption of grapes goes up taking the leadership from stone fruits. Lowest prices were noted for Moldavian blue grapes – 0,79 $/kg whereas Uzbekistani and Turkish fruits had more or less similar price level – 1,18 – 1,20 $/kg in Saint-Petersburg, the last one was better sold out in Moscow – up to 1,42 $/kg. Italian grapes stayed on 2,20 $/kg level without strong demand.Summer fruitsThe end of the season is felt for summer fruits. The stuff offered on the market doesn’t look fresh enough after cold storages. The prices were on 1,75 – 1,90 $/kg level with the offer exceeding the demand. There are newcomers – pomegranates whose season starts from Uzbekistan – 2,37 $/kg and later – from Egypt which will come next week into the market.Local potato were offered on 0,235 $/kg, cabbage – 0,255 $/kg, onions – 0,335 $/kg. The demand in week 37 was shown for tomatoes and cucumbers, capsicums and aubergines. Tomatoes from Astrakhan region were offered on 1,07 $/kg level, those from glass houses – from 1,34 $/kg up. Cucumbers – 1,00 $/kg up to 1,30 $/kg. Local capsicums – 0,55 $/kg, aubergines – 0,59 $/kg.
Pavel Bandurovsky195269, Russia, St. Petersburg, 54, Svetlanovsky pr., letter "B" Tel.:
+ 7 (812) 324-2514, + 7 (812) 324-2515 Fax: + 7 (812) 324-2510 Email Website
Publication date: 9/14/2007