Russia: Imported apples too expensive to compete

Week 38 had nothing special regarding market activity though the prices have gone up for most of the products due to coming to an end picking time for local produce. Summer shows up in Russia again with nice range of temperature +15 +20 C in a day, sun and even better colored trees where leaves are turning from green to yellowish and red. Only Saint-Petersburg had it’s usual rainy weather. The first Chinese products reached the European part of Russia through Saint-Petersburg. Arrivals were not too large – 6500 pallets from the Southern Hemisphere. The loser of week 38: imported apples which appeared to be too expensive in comparison with local production which found it’s right price level.OrangesIt finally happened – prices have started to climb up. At first, it was cat. I of South African fruits – 0,96 $/kg. Cat. II from South Africa and Argentine oranges stayed still on last week’s level. Saint-Petersburg was the first to react unlikely Moscow where the prices didn’t change too much as well as in regions.LemonsThe situation with lemons has splited by quality as eventually quite some stuff from last vessels arrived with problems. The sound products were sold on 1,00 $/kg level, problematic ones – lower, to 0,88 $/kg. Turkish lemons are expected in the south since next week on.MandarinsPrices went up again as South African fruits couldn’t be found and totally it was a shortage. The level of week 38 was from 1,52 $/kg on.GrapefruitsThe sales of Star Ruby variety again were more active than Ruby Red. In general not much grapefruits were offered by importers so prices went up as well : 1,85 $/kg for large sizes (28-35) from South Africa, 1,60 $/kg for the same sizes from Argentina.ApplesThe local fruits conquered the market in week 38. With the prices for nice selected apples by modern packing lines (news of this season) on the level of 0,60 $/kg they became the bestseller of week 38. Not calibrated stuff with sizes in range 65/90 was offered on 0,44 $/kg. Moldavian apples started from 0,96 $/kg up, Serbian – from 1,20 $/kg, European – from 1,60 $/kg.PearsThe situation was normal with much better demand for Conference than for any other variety. It seems that last Triumph pears were turning ripened. Their price level in week 38 – 1,23 $/kg whereas Conference was 0,10 $/kg more expensive in size 55/65. The price for large sizes stepped over 1,50 $/kg level.GrapesMoldavian blue grapes went up to 0,90 $/kg, Turkish Sultana jumped to 1,92 $/kg. Uzbekistani stuff was in between of them. The demand for those grapes was active enough what can’t be said about all Italian varieties – with the prices on 2,20 $/kg level they were the last to move.KiwisFirst Italian kiwis entered the market and were met with pleasure after long period of shortage. In week 38 the price level was between 2,10 – 2,25 $/kg depending upon sizes.Summer fruitsIt was the last splash in summer fruits trade stipulated by the warm weather. In week 38 peaches were more expensive than nectarines – 2,60 $/kg against 2,20 $/kg accordingly with the reasonable demand. Plums were sold on levels from 1,36 $/kg up for Serbian small size stuff, variety Stanley till 1,80 $/kg for round shaped, large size fruits of variety President. There was some French stuff on the market on 2,08 $/kg level. Even the watermelons went up to 0,30 $/kg, the situation with melons has been corrected as well – 1,28 $/kg.VegetablesAs the picking season is almost over the last vegetables were offered on higher prices than before except potatoes which went down to 0,22 $/kg. White cabbage kept it’s level whereas onions jumped to 0,42 $/kg. Local tomatoes and cucumbers were sold on the same price level – 1,60 $/kg which immediately opened the door for imported stuff.
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: 9/25/2007