"Belgian top fruit exporters pick up thread with India"

Belgian auctions and exporters have been exporting apples to India since 2011. So far the volumes haven't been big, but this is expected to increase within the coming years. Veerle van der Sypt of Fresh Trade Belgium indicates that the export to this country has also stood still for a while. "Now, with the Russian boycott and the search for new markets, the thread has been picked up again, and there is an active interest in India, especially for the redder apples. Pears are also allowed into India, but other fruit and veg products are not."

Fresh Produce India
She notes that the Conference pear is still a relatively new product in India. "It will take some work yet to expand sales there. There is a trade show in Mumbai between April 23 and 25, Fresh Produce India. This year, VLAM isn't organizing a joint promotion, but exporters will definitely be going there. Marc Evrard of BFV will speak at the show this year, giving a presentation on Conference."

Major competitor
Veerle says that the export already got going in the autumn of 2014, but decreased again after that. "Now, in the new year, the export appears to be taking off well again." The United States also supplies top fruit to India. "That's a major competitor for us, because the US season can be compared to that of Belgium. With the measures taken by the European Central Bank and the favourable exchange rate of the euro compared to the dollar (for export) I think our competitive edge will be positively affected in India." India also has its own harvest. "That's normally gone by January/early February. New Zealand will enter the market at the end of March. In the period in between, we certainly see a margin for growth for our export. Unfortunately at the moment it's too early for any exact export figures," she concludes.

For more information:
Veerle van der Sypt
Fresh Trade Belgium
Sint-Annaplein 3
9290 Berlare
T +32 (0)9 339 12 52
F +32 (0)9 339 12 51
E freshtradebelgium@fvphouse.be
W www.freshtradebelgium.be