The hard fruit market is, according to Jackie Boussier of the company of the same name from Borgloon, a strange market compared to last year. "It is really completely opposite. Last year we received more money for lesser quality pears and now we receive less than cost price for super quality."
"The most important reasons are the large volume in Europe and the increasing competition of the Eastern block countries" Jackie explains. "At the moment stocks are still large and both with apples and pears it remains difficult for growers and the trade. I do not expect any changes this season. Possibly a few cents, but that will be all. Now we also have the competition from pears from abroad." According to him the quality of the fruit is very good this year. "Especially pears are extremely good. Unfortunately prices are around a level of 35 to 45 cents."
The trader mentions that from Belgium pears mainly go to Russia. "Everybody has trouble with the increasing competition of the Eastern block countries and then mainly Poland. I expect that this will become worse in the future. We mainly export to the Scandinavian countries, but there it is also very difficult at the moment." Jackie tells that Eastern block countries become stronger in hard fruit on the market all the time. Companies receive many subsidies from the government and the cost price is a lot lower there. We cannot match this."
"During the stop of the export of the Dutch product to Russia the Netherlands mainly directed itself towards the Scandinavian and English markets to sell their pears and against very low prices. As a result part of the market was lost for the Belgian exporters" Jackie concludes.
For more information:
Jackie Boussier N.V.
11a, Colenstraat
3840 Borgloon - Belgium
Tel: +32-12741991
www.belfrutex.be
[email protected]
Jackie Boussier N.V.
11a, Colenstraat
3840 Borgloon - Belgium
Tel: +32-12741991
www.belfrutex.be
[email protected]