EastFruit analysts note a considerable relative increase in exports of raisins (dried grapes) from Uzbekistan to Japan in 2021. Exports of Uzbek raisins to Japan increased by 140% by the end of the year, but the export volume remained modest – 27 tonnes.

Nevertheless, since Japan is one of the most demanding countries in terms of product quality and safety and it rarely increases the volume of purchases from a single country, the trend of supply growth itself is a very important indicator. In addition to raisins, Uzbekistan exported 6 tonnes of dried apricots to Japan (in 2020 – 5 tonnes) and 2 tonnes of plums (in 2020 -22 tonnes).

Of the fresh fruits, only one small batch of 2 tonnes of fresh melons from Uzbekistan was delivered to Japan. Before that, Uzbek melons were not available on the Japanese market, meaning that this can be considered a breakthrough, unless the importer had no complaints about the first trial batch.

Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest exporters of dried fruits. In terms of raisin exports, the country is periodically among the Top-5 exporting countries, but the volume of raisin exports from Uzbekistan fluctuates from year to year. The largest volume of export of Uzbek raisins was recorded in 2017 and amounted to 78 000 tonnes. The leader of the global raisin market is Turkey, exporting up to 280 000 tonnes. Iran is the second in the export of raisins, the United States are the third. Other major exporters of dried grapes include South Africa, Chile, Afghanistan and Argentina.

Сообщение Uzbekistan doubled exports of raisins to Japan in 2021 and delivered the first trial batch of melons появились сначала на EastFruit.

EastFruit analysts in Uzbekistan report that there are almost no exports of fresh apricots from the country in 2021, despite the fact that the export season should be in full swing now. Moreover, due to high prices for apricots in the domestic market and relatively low prices in neighboring Tajikistan, Uzbekistan is importing apricots from Tajikistan this year. Therefore, Uzbekistan, one of the world leaders in the export of fresh apricots, is now de facto a net importer!

The main reason is the frosts, which affected the farmers of Uzbekistan and to a lesser extent, the harvest in Tajikistan. Two waves of frost at the end of February and in mid-March caused serious damage to the harvest of stone fruits this year, especially apricots. EastFruit specialists seem to have estimated the damage quite accurately, since our forecast of high prices for apricots in 2021 in Uzbekistan is 100% coming true. We estimated the loss of the apricots harvest in Uzbekistan at least at 60-65% then. At the same time, we noted that the real damage could be even greater. We also mentioned the possible negative impact of bad weather on the quality of Uzbek apricots.

All this is confirmed by the developments on the market. In fact, it makes no economic sense now to export apricots from Uzbekistan to Russia, their main market.

As of May 21, 2021, the average wholesale price of apricots in Moscow, the capital of Uzbekistan’s, was $ 2.74 per kg. At the same time, prices for apricots on the domestic market of Uzbekistan, despite the massive harvest, ranged from 26,000 sums/kg ($ 2.5) to 58,000 sums/kg ($ 5.5), depending on the size, variety and other quality characteristics. It should be noted that prices in Uzbekistan at this time were 6.5 times higher than last year on the same date.

Read also: Ranking of leading table grapes varieties in Uzbekistan gives no hope for export expansion

However, in Tajikistan, where the losses of apricots were less substantial, their prices are now within the range of $ 0.79-1.06 per kg, i.e. 3-5 times lower than in Uzbekistan. An additional factor of pressure on apricot prices in Tajikistan, besides a good harvest, is the complete closure of the border with Kyrgyzstan, through which exports were usually carried out. Therefore, it is now profitable for Uzbekistan to export apricots from Tajikistan. Tajikistan, as a rule, focuses on apricots for dried fruit production, rather than for fresh market. Therefore, it is unlikely that the export of Tajik apricots will replace the Uzbek export in the markets of Kazakhstan and Russia.

This year the wholesale prices for apricots in Russia are higher than last year by 25% partly due to the lack of supplies of fresh apricots from Uzbekistan. After all, Turkey is also using its opportunity on the Russian apricot market now due to the lack of competition. Turkish farmers are making good profit now, and exporters sell apricots at $ 1.50-1.60 per kg on FCA (Turkey) terms.

Considering that the EU apricot harvest in 2021 will decrease by 20% compared to 2020 and by 40% compared to the 2015-2019 average, and in Moldova the season is delayed by two weeks, this season can be very successful in apricot for Turkey. Russia, however, also has nowhere to import fresh apricots from, except for Turkey.

According to EastFruit, fresh apricot was the fastest growing Uzbek export position until 2021 among fruits, increasing almost one and a half times annually. This is despite the global downward trend in export prices for apricot. However, things can change dramatically this year, and world prices for apricots are likely to be at a record high for the past several seasons.

In 2020, the export of fresh apricots from Uzbekistan, according to Trademap, reached a record 74.5 thousand tons, increasing from 58 thousand tons in 2019, 43 thousand tons in 2018 and 23 thousand tons in 2017. Thus, Uzbekistan came second in the world in terms of the export volume of apricots and was second only to Spain, which supplied 96 thousand tons of these fruits to foreign markets in 2020. By the way, Uzbekistan for the first time bypassed even Turkey in terms of the export volume of fresh apricots last year. However, in 2021, Turkey will most likely reduce the production of dried apricots, because selling fresh apricots is more profitable. Moreover, EastFruit assumes that Turkey might become the leader in the world export of fresh apricots in 2021.

Сообщение Will Uzbekistan, the world’s second largest exporter of apricots, become a net importer in 2021? появились сначала на EastFruit.

Improving apricot production and processing in Tajikistan expands its geography of supplies. Exports of dried apricots have reached 50,000 tons in just several years. These facts were announced by Lutfullo Ortikov, the founder of the fruit production company Fruits Valley, during the national online conference “Apricot business in Tajikistan: efficiency of production, processing and marketing.”

The event was organized by the EastFruit project with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The partner of the event was the agro-media agency Sapieza.

“Tajikistan is one of the largest suppliers of dried apricots in the world. There are many varieties of apricots in Tajikistan that are used for drying. We started exporting dried apricots not only to traditional markets but also to developed markets,” said Lutfullo Ortikov.

According to the Fruits Valley founder, apricots in Tajikistan are traditionally dried under the sun: “Not every farmer is ready to dry an apricot in nature in a clean area. It is not so easy to organize this process competently. Ideally, we work with our farmers and suppliers to train them in accordance with the requirements of clients in the EU and the United States.”

Exports of dried apricot products

“The main export volume is in industrial dried apricots (30-35%), which we sell in traditional markets in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Uryuk (dried apricots with kernels) are a small and usually second-grade variety (industrial apricot). They are bought for compote mixtures and makeup 20% of exports. Their sales markets are to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the United States, and China.

Kuraga (dried apricots without kernels and of extra quality made of the Babai variety) are exported in a more expensive category. They are similar to Turkish dried apricots. Their sales markets are in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the United States, Poland, and Germany.

Iranians buy sweet kuraga (with sugar inside) in large quantities before Ramadan. They use it in a sacred place,” said Mr Ortikov.

He added that apricot kernels are a promising product that could open up new markets. “We already have contracts with Germany and we have started to supply this product to Italy.”

Read also: Global prices for fresh and dried apricots consistently decreasing, quality requirements increasing

Product packaging for the EU

The Fruits Valley company supplies products to the EU in large packages. “We do not use packing because of certain nuances. They do not trust us so they do the packing themselves on the spot. We send products in boxes and in bags without labels or stickers. The EU asks for a lot of documentation on the availability of packaging materials for food use and must not use metal staples in boxes,” explained the founder.

Labelling and logistics

Lutfullo Ortikov also paid attention to the question about labelling. According to him, each country has its own labelling requirements for each specific product both per unit of goods and per pallet. For example, the labels on products sent to Ukraine must be translated into Ukrainian.

“Deliveries from Tajikistan to EU countries are carried out by land transport to the buyer’s warehouse. The cost of delivery to the EU is on average $4,000,” he said.

A final takeaway by Mr Ortikov during the conference was the importance of creating a transparent supply chain. The end consumer must know the background of the product such as how the product was grown at what intervals and with what drugs it was processed.

You can watch the video below for more information on Fruits Valley’s experience of exporting dried apricots to the EU and US markets:

Сообщение Dried apricots from Tajikistan to US and EU markets – the export experience появились сначала на EastFruit.

Kuraga (dried apricots) is affectionately being referred to as the alternative currency of Tajikistan by EastFruit journalists. Interest in unique Tajik dried fruits is constantly growing. The country’s abundance of sunshine forms very sweet apricots of local varieties and drying them under the same sun without using any artificial heat sources makes this product truly special.

Another rare feature of kuraga from Tajikistan is the incredible concentration of apricot orchards in just four regions of the country! There are so many orchards that there is simply nowhere to dry the harvested apricots. Thus, they are laid out on any free piece of land – construction sites, yards, orchard aisles. Sometimes they are drying on the roofs of houses!

The apricot drying process is a must-see versus reading about it 100 times so we suggest you watch EastFruit’s video about how apricots are grown, harvested, dried, transported, packaged and sold (with emotional bargaining) in the Sughd region of Tajikistan! You will learn how apricot sulphation is carried out; which apricots the locals choose; how kuraga, kaisa, apricot and bargak differ; how a family can earn $20,000 from apricots in one month and much more!

Below you can watch EastFruit’s video about dried apricots of Tajikistan:

By the way, locals also make good money from green apricots known “gura” in Tajikistan and “dovcha” or “dovuccha” in Uzbekistan. Also, despite the frost in late February, dovcha are already on sale in supermarkets of Uzbekistan. You can watch EastFruit’s video about green apricots below:

Сообщение Kuraga (dried apricots) from the orchards of Tajikistan to the largest dried fruit market появились сначала на EastFruit.

On March 11, 2021, the international project EastFruit will hold a national online conference “Apricot Business in Tajikistan: Efficiency of Production, Processing, and Marketing.” The conference will be held online from 9:00 to 11:00 (Dushanbe). The conference will be attended by international and national experts, producers, and other specialists. The event will be held with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The partner of the event is the agro-media agency Sapieza.

During the conference, the main global trends in the apricot market will be discussed, the value-added chain in the sector will be analyzed, and the issues of entering export markets will be considered. In addition, the speakers will cover the topics of growing organic apricots, retail requirements for the quality of fresh and dried apricots. The topic of tourism will be how to organize tourist trips during apricot blooming.

Among the speakers of the event:

• Andriy Yarmak, Economist, Investment Department, FAO, Italy;
• Bakhtiyor Abduvohidov, FAO International Consultant, Tajikistan;
• Andriy Pankratov, FAO International Consultant, Ukraine;
• Sherzod Abdurakhmanov, Business Development Specialist, Tajikistan;
• Kirill Novak, a buyer of dried fruits, Ukraine;
• Lutfullo Ortikov, Founder of Fruits Valley Manufacturing Company, Tajikistan;
• Alexander Koval, a specialist in the development of agritourism, Ukraine.

To register for the conference “Apricot Business of Tajikistan: Efficiency of Production, Processing, and Marketing,” please follow this link: https://forms.gle/17Dr16brwCXYQ17c6.

The conference will be held on the ZOOM platform and all registered participants will receive a link to the event.

Join the discussion of the challenges facing apricot producers in Tajikistan!

Сообщение National online conference “Apricot business in Tajikistan: efficiency of production, processing and marketing” появились сначала на EastFruit.

Farmers of the Sughd region in Tajikistan exported 17,300 tons of dried fruits in 2020, which is almost 3,000 tons more than last year. In monetary terms, the exports of dried fruits amounted to $7 million, which is $1.72 million more than in the previous year, as reported by the Sughd Regional Department of the Customs Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

According to the Department’s data, the region exported dried fruits to 14 countries near and far abroad.

The largest consumer of dried fruits from the Sughd region was Kazakhstan, which imported 5,700 tons of these products. Farmers also exported more than 5,100 tons to Iraq and more than 4,600 tons to Russia. The top importers of Sughd dried fruits were Germany (1,200 tons), Turkey (950 tons), Ukraine (666 tons), and Belarus (570 tons). Even neighbouring Uzbekistan imported 300 tons of various dried fruits from the Sughd region of Tajikistan.

In monetary terms, Russia spent a considerable amount of money in the region on dried fruits at $4.1 million, followed by Kazakhstan at $950,000, Iraq at $724,000, Belarus at $488,000, and Ukraine at $216,000.

Read also: Exports increased for lemons, dried apricots, onions, and grapes from Tajikistan’s Sughd region in 2020

Buyers from the United States and Western Europe purchased expensive, high-quality dried fruits, mainly dried apricots. The United States purchased more than 23 tons of various dried fruits at $2,650 per ton. The Czech Republic purchased 3.7 tons of dried fruits at $2,566 per ton, Israel purchased 8.5 tons of dried fruits at $2,127 per ton, and Latvia purchased 19.6 tons of dried fruits at $1,198 per ton. Poland bought 174 tons of dried fruits at $875 per ton.

Several countries bought cheaper dried fruits: China at $120 per ton, Iraq at $142 per ton, Kazakhstan at $165 per ton, and Turkey at $172 per ton.

The Sughd region mainly exports dried apricots and is the leading exporter of dried fruits in Tajikistan. In 2020, Sughd farmers exported 11,100 tons of dried apricots, which is 3,000 tons more than in 2019. In total, the value of dried apricot exports was $4.6 million, which is $1.3 million higher than in the previous year.

Other dried fruits exported by the Sughd region were plums, apples, peaches, pears, and a mixture of dried fruits. The exports of these products, except for the dried fruit mixture, was less than in 2019 both in quantitative and monetary terms.

Сообщение Dried fruit exports from Tajikistan’s Sughd region reached $7 million in 2020 появились сначала на EastFruit.

The Sughd region of Tajikistan exported more than 95,600 tons of various fresh and dried fruits and vegetables in 2020, which is 21,400 tons more than in 2019. In monetary terms, the customs value of this type of exports amounted to $14.7 million. This is $4.4 million more than was exported a year earlier. This data was provided by the regional department of the customs service under the government of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Sughd region.

The greatest export of vegetable products was onions at more than 69,000 tons, which was 15,800 tons more than in 2019. Among fruit products, dried apricots were exported the most from the Sughd region at 11,100 tons, which is more than in 2019 by 3,000 tons. Exports of apricot kernels doubled from 1,100 tons in 2019 to 2,200 tons.

Read also: Tajik farmers expanded early onions areas and are ready to export in April-May 

Also in 2020, the exports of fresh apricots decreased by 334 tons to 3,200 tons for a total of $778,000. The exports of mixed dried fruits increased significantly by 728 tons to almost 5,000 tons. Fresh grapes were exported at 1,100 tons, which is 749 tons more than in 2019, and this is despite the fact that 2020 was a generally poor harvest for the grape growers of the Sughd region.

According to the regional customs service, there was a significant increase in the export of lemons amounting to more than 71 tons! This is a 14-fold increase from last year considering that, in 2019, only 5 tons of lemons produced in Sughd were exported abroad and, in 2018, lemons from the region were not exported at all.

The region began exporting dried onions last year, which was not exported in 2019. In 2020, 80 tons were delivered from the Sughd region to the foreign market. There is also a significant increase of dried vegetable exports by 51 tons reaching 133 tons. Experts attribute this result to the successful work of the Khujand-Agro company, which is engaged in the processing, drying, and exports of dried vegetables.

In all likelihood, rosehip fruit will occupy a significant place in the range of export products of the region in the near future. About 9.5 tons of it were exported last year, which is almost 8 tons more than in 2019.

In total, 38 different types of fruits and vegetables produced in northern Tajikistan were exported to more than 20 countries near and far from the Sughd region in 2020.

Сообщение Exports increased for lemons, dried apricots, onions, and grapes from Tajikistan’s Sughd region in 2020 появились сначала на EastFruit.