In 2021, Ukraine exported a commercial batch of carrots to the Saudi Arabian market for the first time. All in all, 24 tons of carrots were sent from Ukraine to Saudi Arabia in sea containers in September 2021.
Andriy Yarmak, economist at the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said: “The main problem of the Ukrainian vegetable sector is the lack of orientation on the needs of export markets. Since local supermarkets and wholesalers continue to sell vegetables of extremely low quality, it is easier and more convenient for vegetable growers in Ukraine; they do not have to invest in more efficient growing technologies, in expensive modern equipment for handling, cooling, sorting and packaging vegetables.”
“However, the result is periodic price collapses, when the supply is even slightly higher than the needs of the domestic market, and income per hectare is relatively low. Therefore, even trial deliveries of commercial batches of fresh vegetables to distant markets are an important experience and an important signal to market participants that this is possible.”
In total, Ukraine increased its carrot exports almost threefold in 2021, to 11,600 tons.
Source: east-fruit.com