Prices Romania halved

While the EU is once again deliberating on the compensation plan for growers, several countries are still requesting compensation. At the Russian side of the story, reports on new investments to further develop the agricultural sector keep coming in. A new logistics centre is being built. And Moroccan growers are hoping to further expand their trade with Russia.

Saint Petersburg new logistics centre
Near Saint Petersburg, 15 billion roubles (300 million euros) is being allocated for a logistics centre for agricultural production. The centre is being built near the city. The investors are working on getting the documents in order. The first building stage, with an area of 40,000 m2, has to be finished in July 2015.

And as if there’s an abundance of fruit and vegetables, inhabitants of Saint Petersburg are taking pumpkins, potatoes, carrots, apples and pears to the zoo. The fruit and vegetables are used in the animals’ menus.

Morocco expects more export
Producer organizations want to take over a part of the European market share in Russian fruit and vegetables. According to the growers, the Russian boycott is ‘a gift from God’, giving them the opportunity to increase their export. Next week, a meeting between Morocco and Russia is planned, where a strategy has to be developed to strengthen the trade relations.

Romanian prices halved
The effects of the boycott on the Romanian market are mostly indirect, but not any less serious for it. The prices for fruit and vegetables are reported to have gone down by 50% already, because products intended for Russia are entering the market in Romania. Direct consequences of the boycott are mainly felt by apple and onion growers. The request from Romanian growers for a 300 million euro compensation was not honoured by the EU, the country will receive 10 million.