Review of the Russian market..

Week 12 In week 12 trade activity on Russian fruit market has slightly increased in most of the regions in comparison with previous week. The country is being filled up by citruses though the demand was still kept in Novorossijsk and Saint-Petersburg, the shipments to far regions went down. The range of products arriving through the south of the country is enlarged by means of fresh potatoes and onions from Egypt. Weather remained abnormally warm – up to +12C in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg unlikely in Europe faced some snowfalls. Trade in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg took a pause for legalizing the traders on the street markets in accordance with new Russian law. That brought negative short-term effect for the passed week. Oranges The situation with production from Morocco turned to the following : no sales of Valencia, the increasing demand pushes up prices for Washington Sanguine variety – to 0,96 – 1,02 $/kg. The sales of Egyptian Valencia were slowing down as the percentage of small sizes is high enough in this year. As a result average price went down to 0,77 $/kg in the south though it was on 0,82 $/kg level in the beginning of week 12. Small sizes which are left by traders on importer’s warehouses were offered on 0,72 $/kg which is not at all a good sign for further trade. Sale in view of end of this season. There is also Cyprus oranges available in the south but with little quantities and little prices – about 0,70 $/kg. Lemons A few lemons of good quality available on the market were so difficult to be found that most of traders gave it up. Only few Spanish on 1,02 $/kg level on those stocks where traders couldn’t give even variety name. It seems that since this week the Turkish lemons will be “on sale” position. Thus market is waiting for fresh stuff from southern hemisphere. Mandarines In general the demand for mandarins was kept high, however market turns to be selective to sizes. Moroccan Ortalines moved up to 1,53 $/kg for sizes 75 and smaller whereas the larger ones could be bought with price lower than 1,00 $/kg. Spanish and Israeli stuff were offered even higher – 1,65 $/kg. Mandor from Cyprus kept it’s price level stable since last week – about 1,25 $/kg. Pakistani Kinnow gained position back to 1,15 $/kg due to general shortage of mandarins. Turkish Minneola is still out of mandarin’s situation further lowering the price range to 0,30 – 0,58 $/kg. Grapefruits Israel dominated grapefruit market among the other origins – 1,30 – 1,35 $/kg in the south. Turkey was presented as well with Ruby Red (1,00 $/kg) and Rio Red (1,19 $/kg) varieties. Chinese Pomelo has some quality problems in the end of the season which defined wide price range from 1,07 to 1,53 $/kg. Apples Polish Idared climbs further up as the prices in Poland don’t stop their race – 0,99 $/kg in week 12. The sales were slowing down, the space for Chinese Fuji therefore increased. As a result prices for the last variety changed to 1,23 $/kg. As for Western European apples Golden has caught up Granny, the demand is shared equally between these two varieties with prices starting from 1,42 $/kg level up for size 70/80 in wooden crates. New crop appeared in quantities on the market, prices are not yet established as first volume sales have just started. The worst position is taken by Royal Gala variety (again sizes!) with 1,39 $/kg level. Red Delicious variety is on 1,50 $/kg with some hopes to go up. Price for Chilean Red Delicious starts from 1,60 $/kg. Pears Williams variety from Argentina becomes the leader of sales. Prices went on to climb – about 1,07 $/kg in week 12, satisfactory sales all over the country. Red Bartlett variety lost 0,06 $/kg in comparison with last week which didn’t cause the demand – sales are still slow on 1,24 $/kg. The situation with first arrivals of Packham variety refers to the one with Valencia oranges from Morocco – the real demand will come once Williams has gone out the market. In week 12 they were offered on the same level as Williams. Conference 55/65 was also loosing the sales dynamics as well as price level – 1,09 $/kg this week. Chinese Ya variety sales were stopped as Williams looked more attractive for traders. Grapes The demand for grapes was on high level, mostly due to absence of grapes on the market. Those rare products presented in week 12 could be sold expensive enough – 2,55 $/kg for Thomson variety from Chile, 3,40 $/kg for those from South Africa. Red Globe was offered on more or less the same level like white varieties though the demand was higher for white ones. Kiwi This product was a sacrifice of full stocks. Despite of some demand from traders importers kept kiwis in trucks as they couldn’t place kiwis in . As a result one could find them with 1,54 $/kg level in Moscow, almost nothing qualitative in Saint-Petersburg. Vegetables The new crop onions and potatoes have started to arrive with volumes to Novorossijsk. As Dutch onions are still on 0,55 $/kg level, the fresh Egyptian was offered on 0,54 $/kg in the south. Potato having started from 0,69 $/kg level in the beginning of this week quickly went down to 0,615 $/kg at the end. As the traders have taken some losses with low prices for tomatoes and cucumbers last week arrival in week 12 was not large. As a result since middle of the week local cucumbers moved back to 3,50 $/kg level, tomatoes – to 2,55 $/kg and higher.
Pavel Bandurovsky 195269, Russia, St. Petersburg, 54, Svetlanovsky pr., letter "B" Tel.: + 7 (812) 324-2514, + 7 (812) 324-2515 Fax: + 7 (812) 324-2510