WARSAW: Polish exporters significantly reduced their bell pepper shipments in the current season. Exports totaled just 10,800 tons in the first three quarters of this season with more than 90% of the peppers exported in the third quarter. Exports fell by a third compared with the same period of the previous season.
A significant fall in exports to Eastern Europe was especially noticeable. Polish exports to Russia did not take place this season despite totaling 1,400 tons in the previous season thanks to re-exports through third countries.
Shipments to Belarus and Ukraine (previously the main re-export channels for Polish produce) also fell considerably: down by 85% and 87%, respectively.
An increase in exports to the EU countries has partially compensated a loss of the Russian market. The EU imported more than 9,000 tons of Polish bell peppers, three times as high as in the same period of the season 2014/15.
