Russia typically imports around one million tons of mandarins annually—supplied from Latin America and South Africa in summer, and from Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco in winter. However, due to sanctions and political tensions, shipments of Moroccan mandarins, particularly the popular "Clementine" variety, have nearly ceased, according to exotic fruit expert Irina Koziy of the Berry Union. Turkish, Chinese, and Southeast Asian mandarins are expected to fill the gap, while residents of the Far East will continue to receive steady supplies from China.
According to the Abkhazian Ministry of Agriculture, the first batch of the new season's Abkhazian mandarins arrived in Russia in October. The total supply is expected to reach 36,000 tons, though this won't fully meet demand.
Mandarin prices have also been rising this year. After a 35% increase in 2023, the average price per kilogram decreased slightly to €2.25 by early October 2024. Prices vary across regions, ranging from €1.07 in some areas to €5.66 in others.
Experts attribute the price hike to logistics and import issues and retailers' pricing strategies. Rising prices may lead to a decline in mandarin consumption, as with bananas and apples last season.
Source: pnp.ru