Pakistan to grab $2b Russian market for fruit, vegetable export

Reported by: `Customs Today Report November 5, 2014

ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Fruits and Vegetables Exporters, Importers, and Merchants Association (PFVA), is trying to grab $2 billion Russian market that has been banned by the United States and European Union for import of fruit and vegetables.

PFVA Spokesmann Waheed Ahmed has said that the association is looking forward to having an upward trend in the coming season due to the ban on Europe, adding that the exporters want to utilise this opportunity and win a substantial share of the market. He said that Pakistan, which exports primarily kinnow mandarin and potatoes to Russia, will capture a 5-10 per cent share of its fresh produce market.

Ahmed said that Pakistan expects to see a significant rise in its kinnow mandarin shipments to Russia this season as a direct result of the EU ban. “We definitely expect to increase our kinnow export there by 15-20 per cent compared to last season, but this will also depend on our local production,” he added.

Pakistan has set a kinnow export target of around 300,000 tonnes (out of a potential 2m-tonne crop) this season, similar to last year, said Ahmed.