KIEV: Ukrainian frozen raspberry exports have reached a record high this season, according to Shuvar. Exports exceeded 6,500 tons in January-November 2016, almost three times as high as in the same period of the previous year and the highest result ever recorded. As a year before, exports peaked in August and September (the period of exports of frozen everbearing raspberries). The export volumes in August 2016 amounted to almost 2,000 tons, 75% of total exports a year before. Exports in September 2016 totaled 1,800 tons, three times as high as in the same month of the past year.
Ukrainian market analysts connect a jump in exports with the higher production of raspberries in Ukraine and high demand for Ukrainian produce in the European market. The EU countries accounted for the largest part of Ukrainian exports with Poland accounting for 3,400 tons (almost 50% of Ukraine’s total exports). Germany’s share stood at about 10%, and Ukraine shipped more than 600 tons of frozen raspberries to the German market. The Czech Republic was the third largest importer and purchased 580 tons of frozen raspberries from Ukraine, four times as high as a year before. In addition, the group of the largest importers of Ukrainian frozen raspberries was joined by Belarus with the import volumes amounting to almost 200 tons. The market analysts believe that a large part of those volumes were then re-exported to the Russian Federation, which had banned imports of frozen berries from Ukraine.
