Ukrainian farmers increased exports of apples to the European Union by 347 times compared to 2013, while those to Asian countries rose by 55 times, according to the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry`s press service.
”The shipments of apples from Ukraine to the EU countries grew by 347 times, to 1,130 tonnes in 2016 against 2013. Apple exports to the Asian countries in 2013-2016 increased by 55 times, to 1,210 tonnes,” the report said.
Belarus remains the largest consumer of Ukrainian apples. Over the past two years, Ukranian farmers have increased exports of apples to this country by 63 times, that is up to 9,400 tonnes, the press service added.
”Belarus takes up the largest share of foreign sales [of apples], as Ukraine has increased deliveries to this country by 63 times, or up to 9,400 tonnes, in 2014-2016,” the ministry said.
Asian countries in 2016 bought Ukrainian apples at an average price of US$0.44 per kilogram, while the EU countries – at $0.22 per kg. Ukrainian companies supplied cheaper products at a price of $0.17 per kg to Belarus. The average price of apples in the national market in 2016 was $0.18 per kilogram.
Apple exports accounted for 95% of pome fruit exports, while the share of pear and quince exports was insignificant in the total supplies volume for this commodity group. Most pome fruit are delivered to the domestic market, where 213,000 tonnes of these products were sold last year, the ministry added.
Earlier, exports of Ukrainian agrarian products rose by 4.5% in 2016 from 2015, to $15.5 billion, according to the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry. Grain crops, vegetable oil, oilseeds, soybeans, sugar and meat were traditionally export-oriented staples.
Among key markets were the Asian countries (45.9% of exports, worth $7 billion), the European Union (27.5% of exports, $4.2 billion), Africa (15.7% of exports, $2.4 billion), CIS countries (7.7% of exports, $1.2 billion), and the United States (0.9% of exports, $45 million).
