Early Veggies Lead, Apricots Surge, and Apples Fade: EastFruit Weekly Market Analysis

The fruit and vegetable markets across the EastFruit Trade Platform showcased dynamic shifts during the week of May 9-16, 2025, as early produce gained momentum and last year’s stocks dwindled. Building on last week’s trends, where cherries, apricots, and early vegetables dominated EastFruit, May 2025, this week saw white cabbage cement its position as the top-selling product, Uzbekistan double its apricot supply, and apples vanish from the sales rankings. Here’s a detailed look at the week’s key developments.

Market Overview: Activity and Participation

The EastFruit Trade Platform, saw offers of fresh produce from 13 countries. Ukraine saw a decline in activity, as last year’s stocks ran dry and the early produce season only began to ramp up. Egypt also posted fewer offers, while Uzbekistan, Iran, Poland, and Macedonia increased their presence. New listings emerged from Kazakhstan, China, and India, but the top five countries by offer volume remained unchanged: Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Iran, Egypt, and Poland.

Vegetable Market: White Cabbage Reigns, Red beets Rise

White cabbage solidified its dominance, with suppliers from seven countries driving sales, particularly from Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Potato and onion listings grew, reflecting steady demand, while carrots and red beets saw fewer sellers, signaling tighter supply. Notably, red beets continued their ascent as a global superfood trend, as highlighted in a recent EastFruit article. Radish sales plummeted by over 50%, and Chinese cabbage offers also declined. Garlic dropped out of the top sales, while tomatoes showed signs of a comeback, with rising sales poised to reclaim a leading spot.

Fruit and Berry Market: Apricots Soar, Apples Nearly Disappear

In the fruit segment, Uzbekistan stole the spotlight by doubling its apricot supply, making it the week’s top fruit. Prices for Uzbek apricots fell by a third, enhancing their competitiveness. However, global apricot markets face major issues due to devastating frosts in Turkey and other countries in Europe, which could reshape pricing in the EU, U.S., Middle East, and Central Asia. Strawberry and cherry offers continued to climb, aligning with last week’s surge in early fruit demand. Meanwhile, apples, a long-time fruit segment leader, recorded only sporadic listings and failed to make the top sales — a stark contrast to their dominance a year ago. Egypt introduced the season’s first new-crop grape offers, marking an early start for the fruit.

Buyer Demand: Carrots, Cabbage, and Apples in Focus

Demand for fruit and vegetable products surged, with carrots and white cabbage topping buyer inquiries. Red beets joined the list of most sought-after goods, reflecting their rising popularity. Limited apple availability spurred buyers to actively seek suppliers, posting more purchase requests. Strawberries also saw strong interest, underscoring the seasonal shift toward berries.

Price Trends Across Key Markets

• Ukraine: Last year’s red beets continued to climb in price, while early beets, carrots, and greenhouse vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers saw price drops. Cauliflower prices rose, but Chinese cabbage and most greens (except dill) became cheaper. Reduced radish supply allowed sellers to hike prices, and zucchini and eggplants also edged up. Fruit and berry prices remained stable, except for strawberries, which rose due to lower sales amid cooler weather.
• Uzbekistan: Increased supply of early “borsch set” vegetables (cabbage, carrots, beets, potatoes, onions) drove prices down. Last year’s potatoes and carrots hit lower price ceilings, and tomatoes also dipped. Apricot prices fell by a third, boosting affordability.
• Egypt: Potatoes began to soften in price, while young garlic export prices rose. The first price quotes for new-crop grapes emerged, signaling the season’s start.
• Other Markets: Romania offered early white cabbage at €0.58/kg EXW, and Kazakhstan listed early potatoes at $0.72/kg EXW.

Technology and Inputs: Packaging Takes Center Stage

Activity in the EastFruit FruitTechnology group continued to decline, with fewer seedling offers. Packaging materials emerged as the top-selling item, reflecting seasonal demand for fruit and vegetable storage and transport. Vegetable seedling sales rose slightly, but fertilizers saw minimal trade, and no vegetable seed offers were recorded. Equipment listings included a potato harvester, greenhouse heating systems, pre-sale vegetable preparation tools, shading nets, and films for greenhouses and tunnels. Meanwhile, Japan’s Kagome announced new vegetable varieties and an app to simplify home gardening, potentially influencing regional trends.

Historical Context: A Year Ago

This week’s trends echo patterns from a year ago, when white cabbage also led sales, primarily early varieties. Onions and cucumbers saw rising offers, while apples still held the fruit segment but were declining. Apricots were just entering the top ranks, and Ukraine’s cherry season kicked off three weeks early. Turkey and Greece offered watermelons, a contrast to this year’s focus on grapes and berries.

Looking Ahead

The EastFruit Trade Platform continues to reflect a vibrant, shifting market. White cabbage’s dominance, Uzbekistan’s apricot boom, and the surprising absence of apples highlight the rapid transition to early produce. As global factors like Turkey’s frosts and Egypt’s early grapes reshape supply chains, buyers and sellers must stay agile.