A report by East Fruit on January 29 said that Iran accounted for 40% of Ukraine's kiwi fruit imports to become the largest supplier of this fruit to the East European country.
According to EastFruit analysts, Ukraine continues to increase kiwi fruit imports. In the first 11 months of 2021, Ukrainian fruit fruit importers purchased 11% more kiwi fruits from abroad than in the same period in 2020.
The total volume of kiwi fruit imports to Ukraine in 11 months of 2021 reached 16,400 tons. Thus, according to East Fruit estimates, the average consumption of kiwi fruit in Ukraine exceeded 400 grams per capita per year for the first time.
“The average consumption of kiwi fruit in Ukraine is below the average, but is gradually increasing due to rising household incomes and a growing interest in a healthy lifestyle. Kiwi fruit consumption in other countries of the world is also growing. The average consumption of kiwi fruit per person is now about 600 grams per year," Andriy Yarmak, economist at the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), explains.
"At the same time, the leader in per capita consumption of kiwi fruit is not New Zealand, as many believe, but Greece. The average citizen of Greece consumes up to 14-15 kg of kiwi fruit annually. At the same time, kiwi fruit consumption is higher in those countries where it is grown.”
Greece has traditionally been the largest supplier of fresh kiwi fruit to the Ukrainian market. However, according to the results of the first 11 months of 2021, Greece lost its status as the main supplier of kiwi fruit to Ukraine for the first time. Iran has increased exports by 67% over the year and bypassed Greece in this rating. Thus, according to the results of 11 months of 2021, Iran accounted for 40% of kiwi fruit imports to Ukraine. Greece remained second with a share of 37%, although last year it accounted for 52% of all kiwi fruit supplies to Ukraine. Italy is third with a share of 14%.