EastFruit analysis of regional trading activity in Week 33 of 2026
Key market developments:
- Tomatoes became the most actively traded product on the EastFruit Trade Platform
- Supplies of sweet peppers and eggplants increased
- Cucumber sales nearly halved, while prices rose sharply
- Apple trading continued to gain momentum
- Seller activity in watermelons and melons declined
- The first offers of Uzbek lemons appeared
- Potato and onion prices fell in Ukraine, while white cabbage became more expensive
- Peach prices started to increase in Uzbekistan
These and other trends shaping the fruit and vegetable markets of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and neighbouring countries are covered in EastFruit’s latest weekly trade review.
The number of offers posted during the week in the EastFruit Trade Platform group declined, although the geographical reach of active traders expanded to 12 countries.
Offers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and the Netherlands returned to the platform, while activity from Uzbekistan and Türkiye increased. At the same time, sellers from Ukraine and Iran posted fewer offers than a week earlier.The five most active countries by number of listings were: Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Egypt.
Tomatoes take the lead as cucumber activity drops sharply
Tomato supply continued to increase and, as a result, tomatoes became the most actively traded product on the platform during the week.
Sellers also offered sweet peppers and eggplants more frequently than in the previous week. This coincides with broader European production trends, where output of peppers and eggplants has been increasing despite a reduction in planted area.
In contrast, the number of cucumber sellers fell by almost 50% week on week.
Trading activity in potatoes and onions continued to strengthen, while sweet corn also appeared more frequently in sales offers. Among products outside the main ranking, red onions and garlic remained relatively active.
Apple trading accelerates while watermelon and melon activity weakens
Watermelons remained the leading product in the fruit and berry segment despite a decline in the number of offers. Sales activity also decreased for melons and plums.
At the same time, the number of apple sellers continued to rise, reflecting increasing seasonal supply across the region. Kazakhstan’s Almaty region expects to harvest around 100,000 tonnes of apples, while Ukraine has increased apple exports to more than 22,000 tonnes.
Nectarines and apricots were offered more frequently than a week earlier, whereas peach availability declined.
Another notable development was the appearance of the first lemon offers from Uzbekistan. Pears from Azerbaijan and the Netherlands were also listed on the platform.
Processing tomatoes and cucumbers remain in strong demand
On the demand side, tomatoes and cucumbers for processing remained among the most sought-after products.
Interest in traditional “borsch set” vegetables — potatoes, onions, carrots, beetroot and cabbage — also increased.
Buyers additionally posted a request for frozen elderflowers, illustrating the diversity of demand within the EastFruit trading community.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is preparing to expand tomato processing capacity: a new project in the Kyzylorda region is expected to process up to 600 tonnes of tomatoes per day.
Ukraine: cucumbers surge, while potatoes and onions continue to fall
Vegetable prices in Ukraine moved in different directions during the week.
Prices for potatoes, beetroot and onions continued to decline, while carrots and white cabbage became more expensive.
Sweet pepper prices fell again, whereas tomato prices increased.
The most significant movement was recorded in cucumbers, which rose sharply in price amid a substantial reduction in seller activity.
Zucchini and eggplants were also sold at higher prices than during the previous week.
Cauliflower became more expensive, while the broccoli price range widened. Hot peppers declined in price again, whereas garlic prices started to strengthen.
Sweet corn continued to become cheaper.
In the herbs and leafy vegetable segment, lettuce prices increased, while green onions became more affordable.
Fruit and berries in Ukraine
Apple prices declined again despite growing trading activity, while pear prices increased.
Melons continued to become cheaper.
Watermelon prices, which had been falling since the beginning of the season, showed an upward correction.
Apricots and nectarines were traded at higher prices than a week earlier, while peaches and plums became cheaper.
Raspberry prices continued to rise, and blueberry prices also started moving upward.
Sweet cherries, meanwhile, were offered at lower prices than during the previous week.
Uzbekistan: peach and pear prices move higher
In Uzbekistan, peach and pear prices increased during the week.
Prices for seedless kishmish grapes started to decline, while the trading range for plums narrowed.
Uzbekistan’s dried fruit sector also remains active internationally: raisin exports during the first half of the year reached 57 countries.
Fruit technology market remains stable
The number of listings in the EastFruit Fruittechnology group remained broadly unchanged compared with the previous week.
Offers of fruit and berry planting material continued to increase, while the number of sellers offering packaging and containers declined.
Technology and equipment advertised during the week included:
greenhouse film, agrofibre, fruit grading equipment, drip irrigation tape and machinery for harvesting root crops.
Precision agriculture in focus
The EastFruit YouTube channel continues to publish videos demonstrating how modern technologies are being applied in Moldova’s fruit and vegetable sector. The materials were filmed during a study tour of Uzbek farmers to Moldova.
Recent videos examine how growers use weather stations, sensors, precision irrigation, covered plantations and modern crop protection systems to manage yields and climate risks.
Other reports focus on the use of agricultural drones for scanning and spraying orchards and fields, as well as intensive tree-training systems, biostimulants, biological crop protection and digital monitoring technologies used in the production of large-fruited sweet cherries.
EastFruit will continue monitoring trading activity, supply trends and price movements across the region.
