The fresh and frozen fruit and vegetable sector of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) announced that in the first eight months of this year, Serbian frozen raspberry exports fell by 33 percent compared to the same period in 2021, but still yielded higher revenues, Politika reported on September 26.
In the first eight months of last year, Serbia exported 65,000 tons of raspberries, earning about 200 million euros, while in the same period this year it exported 43,000 tons, earning slightly more than 224 million euros. PKS estimates that Serbia’s raspberry production this year exceeds 90,000 tons, and there are 15,000 tons of last year’s harvest yet to be sold. The purchase price for fresh raspberries in Serbia this year is 500 to 650 dinars (4.27 to 5.54 euros) per kilogram, up from 420 dinars (3.58 euros) per kilogram in 2021. However, in Poland, the price of a kilo of raspberries is about 3 euros at the beginning of the harvest and will drop to about 2 euros per kilogram by the last weeks of the harvest. In addition, Ukraine has a good production of raspberries this year, which are sold in Western Europe at 2.35 to 3.30 euros per kilogram, and plug exporters will encounter difficulties when exporting at high prices.
PKS noted that, according to information from foreign markets, raspberry prices are expected to fall further due to a significant drop in demand in the United States and a decline in demand in Western Europe. Demand for frozen raspberries fell by 10 percent in France and 40 percent in Germany, which are the largest markets for Serbian frozen raspberries, accounting for nearly half of Serbian exports. Although Serbian raspberry sales have increased in some new markets such as Argentina and Saudi Arabia, the export volume is too small to have a significant impact on the overall growth of exports.
Source: Economic and Commercial Section of the Embassy in the Republic of Serbia
Post time: Oct-12-2022