The price of frozen raspberries increased sharply in August due to the low supply of raw materials. According to Foodnews, Polish frozen raspberries (Polana IQF) cost an average of 3.18 Euro/kilo in the first half of October, which is about 52 percent more than the average in July and 83 percent more than in the same period a year ago, as reported by analysts of BGZ bank BNP Paribas.
Frozen raspberry prices have also increased in Serbia. Foodnews states that these (Willamette IQF) cost 3.00 Euro/kilo in the first half of October; an increase of 55 percent compared to last year, even though this year's raspberry production in that country will be higher than in the previous year (+7%.).
A smaller supply in the EU market, as well as high prices of frozen raspberries, may result in higher imports of frozen raspberries from Chile or China. In 2014, imports of frozen raspberries from these countries were relatively small and amounted to just 13.1 and 1.4 thousand tonnes, as they were limited by a lack of competitiveness in terms of prices. This year, however, the circumstances are considerably more favourable.
In any case, the price of frozen raspberries in the EU market is likely to remain high, since the supply of fruit from outside the Union can only cover the supply shortages to a relatively small extent.
