According to EastFruit analysts, traders from Afghanistan returned to import fruits this week, which was a big relief for Tajik winegrowers. A week earlier, the market sentiment was weak, as exporters of Tajikistan were cut off from the two of their largest markets for table grapes, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

However, Afghan grape importers are purchasing only one variety so far – Taifi. The reason is that it has a thick skin and tolerates long-term transportation well and has a longer shelf life. This is extremely important when the domestic fruit market in Afghanistan has not yet fully stabilized and logistics is unpredictable.

“Several groups of Afghan fruit importers have started purchasing Tajik table grapes. One of them has already purchased more than 200 tons, which means that the total volume of imports may turn out to be large, which has already helped stabilize domestic prices for Taifi grape variety. The first Afghan trucks loaded with Tajik grapes are already crossing the border,” says Bakhtiyor Abduvokhidov, a consultant to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

“The purchase price for Taifi grapes from a farmer is 2.6 somoni (about $ 0.23), excluding the cost of packaging materials. Although the price is relatively low, it is at least not lower than last year, while other grape varieties are sold cheaper than in 2020. It is notable that Afghan importers transport Taifi grapes in trucks without refrigeration in order to save on shipping costs. Of all the grape varieties, only Taifi can be normally transported at a daytime temperature of +35 degrees Celsius,” the FAO expert explains.

At the same time, all other table grape varieties continue to fall in price, because Tajikistan is still experiencing a serious shortage of modern fruit storage and pre-cooling facilities for table grapes. Also, other varieties are less transportable than Taifi, and Afghan importers are not interested in them.

Nevertheless, market participants expect that from September 10, grape prices will stabilize and might even grow, as storing of grapes into the storage facilities in significant quantities will begin. In addition, prices are so low this year that many still take the risk and store grapes, despite the difficulties in exporting table grapes to Russia due to the closed border with Kyrgyzstan.

Сообщение Afghanistan resumes imports of table grapes from Tajikistan появились сначала на EastFruit.

According to EastFruit analysts, the Tajik market is currently oversaturated with table grapes. Grape prices are falling rapidly as the peak harvest season is approaching, and there is no certainty on how the grapes will be sold.

According to Bakhtiyor Abduvokhidov, Consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) , up to 30% of all fresh table grapes in Tajikistan were bought by traders from Afghanistan. At the moment, there is no confidence that they will be able to purchase products and export them in the new season. It is also not entirely clear whether there will be a demand for Tajik table grapes in Afghanistan and how the purchasing power will change after the Taliban come to power.

Another problem for the Tajik table grapes growers is the conflict between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which led to a complete blockade of the border between the countries. It is no secret for representatives of the region’s fruit trade that earlier the bulk of table grapes from Tajikistan were supplied to Russia through Kyrgyzstan, and Kyrgyzstan itself was a major consumer of this product. However, this season Tajik traders will not be able to rely on this distribution channel, so they will have to look for other, more expensive options for the transit of their fruits to Russia. This will undoubtedly put significant pressure on the prices of Tajik grapes.

In the Russian market this year the supply of grapes may grow due to an increased  domestic production, as well as due to the expected high harvest of grapes in Moldova . Local farmers are already openly saying that they expect a decline in prices for their products.

The varietal composition of grapes in Tajikistan does not allow to hope for a significant diversification of markets beyond the traditional ones: Russia and the countries of Central Asia. We wrote about the rating of grape varieties in Uzbekistan , and in Tajikistan the situation is similar. Another feature of Tajikistan is the lack of capacity for long-term storage of grapes.

Obviously, if it is impossible to sell grapes at an affordable price and place them in fruit storage facilities for long-term storage, farmers will try to dry the grapes and sell them as raisins.

Сообщение Tajikistan is cut off from two of its most important table grapes markets: Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan появились сначала на EastFruit.

In January-June, Uzbekistan exported 719 thousand tons of agricultural products worth $ 415 million, Kursiv.kz reports citing the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture of the republic.

Uzbek fruits and vegetables are shipped to 59 countries. The bulk of exports were vegetables – 451.2 thousand tons in the amount of $ 144.4 million, and 138.7 thousand tons of fruit were delivered in the amount of $ 143.3 million. The export of legumes and grapes amounted to 50 and 28.7 thousand tons, respectively ($ 49.8 million and $ 32.2 million). The export of nuts reached 4.4 thousand tons for $ 13.1 million. The supply of melons is also equal to 4.4 thousand tons for $ 2.3 million.

The main buyer of Uzbek fruits and vegetables was Kazakhstan. For six months, the volume of exports to this country in monetary terms amounted to $ 130.2 million. Products worth $ 106.8 million were sent to Russia, and agricultural products totaled $ 70.8 million were exported to Kyrgyzstan. Afghanistan purchased agricultural products from Uzbekistan worth $ 24.2 million. Shipments to China and Pakistan totaled $ 13.4 and $ 12.3 million, respectively.

Сообщение First half of 2020, Uzbekistan exported agricultural products to 59 countries появились сначала на EastFruit.