Industry analysts from EastFruit have highlighted a growing trend: the Iraqi market is increasingly pivotal for Ukrainian apple growers. As of February 2024, Iraq ranks as the fourth-largest importer of Ukraine’s fresh apples, following the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. That month alone, nearly 500 tons of apples were dispatched to Iraq. Since the onset of the 2023/24 season, Iraq’s total imports have reached nearly 2,000 tons.
Andriy Yarmak, an economist with the FAO’s Investment Department, observes, “The absence of European nations among Ukraine’s top five apple importers is noteworthy. Despite the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukrainian farmers continue to cultivate apples of exceptional quality. The transit times for apple shipments have markedly increased since February 24, 2022. Consequently, only apples of the finest quality, which also command a higher price, can be considered for export, given the increased costs, risks, and longer transit times.”
Read also: Fresh apple prices in Ukraine are high – will Ukraine turn to imports?
Notably, Ukraine stands as Iraq’s third-largest apple provider, with only Iran and Turkey ahead in terms of volume. In February 2024, Ukraine successfully exported fresh apples to 22 countries globally. Remarkably, two substantial shipments were delivered to Italy – a nation that led the world in apple exports the previous season.
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