In 2012, Russia continues to be the main destination outside the EU for the Spanish exports of fruit and vegetables. In February, shipments grew 50% regarding the same months of 2011, adding up to 47,362 tons.
A group of entrepreneurs began to reconstruct the canning factory in Volgograd region. The plant will produce purees, eggs, sauces, jams, pickled vegetables and salads
Russian Union of Juice Producers informed that in 2011 juices that are produced in Russia occupy 98% of the market, at the same time the consumption of juices increased.
It is a
unique market as there are two markets withinRussiafor Pears – Western Russia and theEast
Russia. US Pears growers began shipping toWestern
Russiain sizeable volumes
6 years ago and in 2007/8 reached 350,000 cartons. In western Russia there is a
much shorter window of availability for US Pears, 3 months, November through
January, due to the competition from European pear suppliers and the Southern
hemisphere pears. It has evolved into a market that will take a range of grades,
but still prefers the bigger sizes.
InEast
Russiaconsumers prefer the
medium size pears (sizes 90’s to 110s) and a mix of grades, and there is also a
greater acceptance of some of the smaller produced varieties, like Forelle,
Comice and Bosc. However both markets have a strong preference for the Red and
Green Anjou varieties. Some of
the difficulties in exporting toRussiainclude payment problems with importers and
the lack of available credit for importers, delays at the ports, and lack of
familiarity with foreign exporters and many of the new importers inRussia.
LikeAustralia, theUSpears are the most expensive pears in the
market, but with the aid of in-store sampling promotions and trade merchandising
importers are confident in handling the pears and help convince consumers to buy
US branded Pears.
