Fruit imports into Russia's Krasnodar region (Kuban) decreased by 17% in January–October 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the Southern Interregional Directorate of Rosselkhoznadzor.
Over the first ten months of the year, the region imported 978,000 tonnes of fruit. Oranges, mandarins, and table grapes remained the most common arrivals, with Egypt, Turkey, and Uzbekistan serving as the primary suppliers.
Logistical disruptions, border delays, higher freight tariffs, and rising global costs continue to challenge the import flow of subtropical fruit, according to Andrey Platonov, Director General of the Academy for Subtropical Agriculture. He notes that exchange-rate pressure, sanctions, and increased logistics expenses have all contributed to the current situation. Despite the decline seen so far, Platonov expects full-year import figures to trend upward and approach 2024 levels of around 1.1 million tonnes.
At the same time, locally grown fruit is slowly gaining competitiveness. Producers are testing new and exotic crop varieties and introducing modern horticultural technologies, improving the freshness and supply reliability of local offerings. According to Platonov, the Russian subtropical fruit market continues to expand as consumer demand for healthier diets grows.
Source: www.dg-yug.ru
