“Photo: pexels.com Ukraine has fertile lands and a wonderful climate in order to grow quality vegetables and fruits that could completely cover the needs of not only Ukrainians but also consumers of neighboring countries. But in the issue of Ukrainian exports of vegetables and fruits abroad, everything is not so easy. About what berries Ukraine conquers Europe and how it will survive […]”, – WRITE: Businessua.com.ua
Photo: pexels.com
Ukraine has fertile lands and a wonderful climate in order to grow quality vegetables and fruits that could completely cover the needs of not only Ukrainians but also consumers of neighboring countries. But in the issue of Ukrainian exports of vegetables and fruits abroad, everything is not so easy. About what berries Ukraine subdues Europe and how will the US duty from the US – journalist will survive Briefly about told Economist of the Investment Department of Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Andriy Yarmak.
Raspberry, blueberry and apples are successfully sold abroad 
Economist Andriy Yarmak. Photo: avm-ua.org
– To the EU the main export positions of Ukraine are frozen raspberries and other berries, fresh blueberry and fresh apples. These are from significant positions and exported annually. Walnut is also exported. If you add processing products, an apple concentrate and tomato paste are occupied. But after the invasion of the Russian Federation, the largest manufacturer of tomato paste lost two of the three plants in the south, – says Andrey Yarmak.
But exports of frozen raspberry is successful and increases from year to year.
– Because we have great conditions for its cultivation, many households with land. And even from 10 acres there really earn the one family, without employees, from 50 to 80 thousand UAH per season, – says Andriy Yarmak. – Blueberry is a relatively new and expensive culture, and labor is relatively inexpensive in us. Therefore, it develops rapidly. And demand for it is increasing both in Ukraine and in the world. This is promising.
We do not use all our capabilities – In my opinion, we use only 1% of the potential of the country’s fruit and vegetable industry, because it is easier for grains or oil crops to earn. And vegetables and fruits will come in an evolutionarily turn, – says Andrey Yarmak.
Risks of cultivation and storage are not comparable, the expert says.
-growing vegetables and fruits is about 30-50 times more risky than growing cereals and oil, and this is only in terms of crop loss. Another 20 times the higher risks of market – because this is the ratio of price fluctuations in separate positions. And as for the risk of complete loss of crops during storage, there is nothing to compare here, – explains our interlocutor.
Another reason is the weak domestic market that agrees to the products of such quality, which is not exported.
– Therefore, if you are a manufacturer and, for example, grows potatoes that are suitable for the domestic market, then in the case of overproduction (the crop is higher than necessary for internal consumption) it is impossible to export it, – Yarmak adds. – And if you grow export quality products, it is more expensive in terms of costs, and in the domestic market you can not make as much profit as those who grow “garbage” by quality. Or you will work at all.
The impact of US duty increasing minimal The other day, US President Donald Trump has announced an unprecedented increase in duties actually for most countries in the world. For Ukraine, this figure will now be 10%. How will it affect our export to the US?
– In short, then (an increase in duties) will not affect at all or have a moderately positive impact, as other countries have received even higher duties. But we are very little trading in this group of goods from the United States, – says Andriy Yarmak.
We do not actually export vegetables and fruits to the United States except apple concentrate. Everything else is in small volumes.
In the topic
According to EastFruit analysts, Ukraine in 2024 – №1 in the world for pure export of frozen raspberries. For the first time in history, Ukraine led the rating of world exporters of frozen raspberry, bypassing Serbia and Poland. In 2024, Ukraine exported 65 thousand tons of frozen raspberries.
For comparison:
- Poland – only 16 thousand tons of pure exports,
- Serbia – 63 thousand tons.
Last year, the first parties of raspberries were sold to Saudi Arabia and Argentina. In 2025, according to experts, this trend will remain.
Source: kp.ua
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