Russia’s booming fruit import market is forecast to decrease over the course of this season as a result of the global economic crisis and economic uncertainty in the country.
This was the assessment was given in a new US Department of Agriculture (UDSA) report on the Russian topfruit market, which found that financial instability has already negatively impacted many spheres of the Russian economy.
Increasing financial difficulties coupled with the weakening of the ruble are decreasing consumer purchasing power and consumption is shifting to the most necessary and affordable items, according to the report.
Despite the crisis and continuing investments in apple production, Russia remains a major importer of fruit, with total fruit imports – valued at over €2.6bn – reaching 4.7m tonnes in 2007/08.
Russia is also the world’s largest importer of apples and pears and one of the globe’s top five importers of grapes and stonefruit. An estimated 949,000 tonnes of apples were imported in Russia during 2007, the report added.
