Potatoes overtook white cabbage to lead trading on the EastFruit Trade Platform, with seven countries participating, while apple supply doubled, and shortages of strawberries and cherries drove strong demand. Onion and beetroot offer increased, tomatoes surpassed cucumbers, and apricots dominated the fruit segment. Prices fluctuated, with Ukraine’s new-season cabbage crashing and Uzbekistan’s apricots declining. This report details the trends, market dynamics, and price movements observed during the week of June 2–8, 2025.
Key Market Trends
Potatoes emerged as the top-traded commodity, with trading across seven countries, primarily led by Ukraine and Egypt, alongside last year’s harvest from the Netherlands and Belgium. The number of sellers offering onions and table beetroot grew, reflecting increased availability. Tomato supply exceeded cucumber supply, marking a shift in the vegetable market.
Apricots led the fruit and berry segment, driven by Uzbekistan, with new offers from Kazakhstan and Armenia. Apple supply more than doubled thanks to early apples appearing on the market of Central Asia, while peaches ranked second among fruits. Egypt introduced first offers of new-season lemons. In Ukraine, new-season cabbage prices collapsed, while last year’s potatoes rose. In Uzbekistan, apricots and early apples became cheaper. Shortages of cherries and strawberries fueled significant buyer interest.
Market Dynamics
The EastFruit Trade Platform recorded growth in listings and participant diversity during Week 23. New activity emerged from Lithuania, Macedonia, and Armenia, while Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Egypt increased their offers. Turkey’s listings surged fourfold, but Iran’s activity declined. Participants from 14 countries posted offers, with Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran leading in volume.
Egypt dominates potato offers, supported by the Eurasian Economic Commission’s tariff exemption for potato imports to Kazakhstan. Onion and beetroot offers grew, while carrot listings fell compared to the previous week. Tomatoes surpassed cucumbers in supply, and bell peppers, Chinese cabbage, and cauliflower saw steady sales outside the top commodities. In the fruit and berry segment, apricots led, primarily from Uzbekistan, with Kazakhstan and Armenia entering as new suppliers. In Tajikistan, unharvested apricots are rotting on trees. Apple and peach offers more than doubled, with peaches ranking second among fruits.
Cherry and strawberry supplies remained limited, boosting demand, while sour cherry offers increased. Uzbekistan introduced early raspberry offers, and Egypt began listing new-season lemons.
Demand was strongest for cherries and strawberries, followed by sour cherries and raspberries for freezing. Ukrainian participants actively procured frozen elderberry flowers. Compared to Week 23 of 2024, white cabbage led despite reduced supply, carrots were scarce, and apricots were just entering the top ranks. Last year, Ukraine’s strawberries and cherries were cheaper, while Uzbekistan’s apricots and watermelons were pricier than current levels.
Price Trends by Country
Ukraine
New-season cabbage prices continued to plummet, and early table beetroot prices declined. New-season onions and carrots saw price increases, as did last year’s potatoes. Tomatoes and cucumbers continued to fall in price, while bell peppers rose. Zucchini prices dropped sharply, and increased supply of cauliflower and broccoli forced sellers to lower prices. In the greens segment, dill and parsley became cheaper. In the fruit and berry segment, strawberry prices rose, and high-quality cherries, already expensive, saw significant price increases. Pear prices began to decline.
Uzbekistan
Young onions and new-season carrots became cheaper, but last year’s carrots rose in price. It is common as new carrots can’t be used in the traditional Uzbekistan’s pilaf – only the old carrots. Prices for 2024-harvest potatoes aligned with early potatoes after a decline. Apricots continued to drop, as did sour cherries and early apples. Initial price offers emerged for melons and peaches. Increased fruit and vegetable exports led to significant truck queues at borders, indicating strong external demand.
Egypt
Export prices for fruit and vegetable products remained stable. Egypt is on track for a record-breaking sweet potato export season to the UK, with steady growth in shipments.
Other Countries
In Turkey, potatoes were priced at $0.45/kg and onions at $0.23/kg (FCA Adana). In Kazakhstan, apricots were offered at $0.84/kg (EXW).
Other Observations
Activity in the EastFruit FruitTechnology group increased during Week 23. Packaging and container offers remained dominant, with a growing number of sellers. Seedling offers decreased, but fertilizers saw higher activity. Technological materials included greenhouse film, shading nets, drip irrigation tape, and equipment for vegetable pre-sale preparation and berry calibration. Drone-based plant protection services were promoted.
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