Vladyslav Makarenko, co-owner of the "Makosad" farm, says many Ukrainian apple growers are facing challenges exporting to Asia and the Middle East. According to him, apples often lose quality during the 60-day sea journey, making them unsuitable for first-class sales.
"The buyer expects top-quality fruit. If apples arrive as second-class, they fetch a much lower price," he said in a Ukrainian interview.
At the start of the war, exports were blocked due to closed Black Sea ports and long border queues with Poland. While those issues have improved, the recent Red Sea crisis has forced shipping routes around Africa, doubling delivery time.
Makarenko added that the global apple market is highly unstable. Countries like Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan may import Ukrainian apples one year, but not the next if their harvests are strong. However, Middle Eastern countries remain Ukraine's most reliable apple importers.
Source: bizagro.com.ua