Association head: Azerbaijani persimmon exported to Europe

The shortage of persimmons in world markets last year led to a 30% increase in the price of Azerbaijani persimmons in the Russian market compared to 2021, and its export to the European market began, head of the Persimmon Producers and Exporters Association Gadir Yusifov told Report.

He said that Azerbaijani persimmon is currently sold more expensive on the Russian market compared to last season: “The main markets for persimmon exports are Russia and Ukraine. Last year, the volume of exports to Ukraine, including transit through Russia, amounted to 40,000-50,000 tons. When the Russian-Ukrainian war began, we were afraid of losing these markets. The forecasts were disappointing. But sales volumes in October-November absolutely did not match the forecasts.”

According to Yusifov, as a result of the sanctions applied against Russia, the flow of certain goods from Europe to this country stopped: “Spain sells more than 500,000 tons of persimmon per year, but exports of products in the 2022 season were very low due to drought. The shortage of harvest in Spain, as well as the reduction in the supply of fruits from European countries to Russia, led to a shortage of persimmons in the Russian market, and, ultimately, to its rise in price.”

The head of the association noted that several exporters were able to export persimmons to Ukraine through Georgia and Romania: “In general, persimmon exports are planned to be completed by the end of February.”

He added that Azerbaijani persimmon has also started to be sold in stores in some European countries: “We are gradually entering European markets. The main reason is the drought in Spain.”

In 2022, the value of persimmon exports from Azerbaijan amounted to $125.9 million.