Since the start of this month, Belarus has allowed the import of several European products, including apples and pears again. That has revived the pear market. "That's reflected in particularly Category II pear prices," says a Dutch exporter.
The trader adds that the effect on the final grower prices, however, remains limited. Dutch pears batches comprise only ten to 15% Category II fruit. In Belgium, that percentage is significantly higher due to the large quantities of 'bottle pears'.
But as the Netherlands Fruit growers' Organization reported earlier, Belarus' sanction regulations do not allow trucks carrying fruit further than 50km inland. They must deliver their cargo to logistics centers and Russian or Belarusian transporters, then transport the products further.