The Russian rouble fell by an astounding 46 per cent last year, triggered by the plummeting price of oil and exacerbated by US and EU sanctions, while 2015 has so far brought no relief, with the currency continuing its slide during January.
This weakening of the rouble has forced the country's fresh produce importers into a major rethink, with volumes demanded now shrinking.
According to Julia Ten, head of Frujet's St Petersburg branch, consumer purchasing power has been seriously affected, leading to a drop in volumes imported.
'Due to the increase in prices, sales volumes have fallen considerably,' she told Eurofruit. 'The first items that have been hit are products that are exotic to Russia's climate, such as bananas, pineapples, grapes, kiwifruit and berries.'
Elena Akuletskaya, import manager for Friend Fruits Group, said that the increase in prices had reduced the volumes consumers were buying, but not their quality expectations.
'Prices have flown up for Russian imports,' she said, 'so people are buying less. But they are demanding the best quality. Nobody wants to purchase poor-quality fruits for the price of gold. So the competition has become even tougher than it was.'
Many suppliers to Russia have stopped loading completely, said Akuletskaya, or are at least asking for 100 per cent pre-payment. 'They are afraid of problems,' she explained. 'So, at the moment, only the strongest companies are benefiting.'
Egyptian citrus exporters to Russia have been hurt by consumers' inability to afford their fruit, while Turkish fruit and vegetable exports to the country fell by 20 per cent in November and December.
