Iranian dried fruits under question: what will change for the Ukrainian market
10 March 13:58
Due to restrictions on food exports from Iran, prices for dried fruits and nuts may rise on the global market. This may be most noticeable in the cheaper segment, primarily for raisins and dates.
This was noted in a comment to "Komersant Ukrainian" by Yevgeny Kuzin, an analyst of the fruit and vegetable market for the EastFruit project and an international consultant for the FAO.
According to him, Iranian products have traditionally been sold at below-average prices, so it is in this segment that the market may experience a shortage.
What exactly does Ukraine import?
Iranian products occupied a significant share of the Ukrainian dried fruit market.
According to the expert, in 2024 Ukraine imported the following from Iran:
- raisins — about a third of the total volume of imports;
- dates — more than half of the market;
- smaller volumes of kiwis, dried apricots, and tomato paste.
That is why the reduction in supplies may primarily affect these categories of goods.
Why cheap dried fruits will become more expensive
The expert explains that Iran supplied non-premium quality products to foreign markets, which usually occupied the lower price segment.
If these supplies are reduced, there may be a shortage of affordable raisins and dates on the market, which will lead to their price increase.
The global pistachio market
Although Ukraine has practically not imported pistachios from Iran, the situation on the global market may still change.
Iran is one of the world’s largest pistachio producers, so export restrictions could lead to a shortage of cheaper pistachios on the global market, potentially affecting prices.
Logistics and export problems
In addition to affecting imports, the conflict in the Middle East could also create problems for Ukrainian exports.
In particular, there are already reports of complications in the logistics of exporting Ukrainian apples to countries in the region.
In addition, rising oil prices may increase the cost of transportation in various directions.
The rise in logistics costs could lead to an overall increase in prices for imported products in Ukraine.
