Ukrainian suppliers again dominate the Belarusian watermelon market this year, despite them experiencing less favorable export conditions than in Russia.
Fedir Rybalko, consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: “For the first time since 2010, Ukraine has become the main supplier of watermelon to Belarus, displacing Russia. This is especially remarkable given an increasing cost of watermelon logistics from Ukraine to Belarus, a higher VAT rate on fruits in Ukraine compared to that in Russia and additional packaging costs of 3 cents per kg, which corresponds to the watermelon cost in Ukraine. Nevertheless, Ukrainian Kherson watermelons are now more competitive on the Belarusian market than Astrakhan watermelons.”
The difference in wholesale watermelon prices on the markets of Belarus and Ukraine has reached $0.22-0.23 per kg, 7. 5 times higher than the cost of watermelons shipped from farms. Ultra-low prices for watermelon in Ukraine fueled demand for it.
Accordingly, the exports of Kherson watermelons to Belarus is becoming very significant, despite the growing cost of transport. Belarusian importers are also increasingly interested in purchasing watermelons from Ukraine.
Source: east-fruit.com
