The EU was the main export market for Ukrainian berries in 2015, according to the official statistics. The EU countries accounted for almost 1,100 tons of exports with the total export volumes amounting to 1,300 tons. Blueberries and cranberries were the most popular berry export categories. Blueberry exports to the EU in 2015 were 30 times as high as in 2014, and cranberry exports reached record high 287 tons against no more than 10 tons annually in the previous years.
However, the official statistical data do not take into account re-exports of Ukrainian produce through Crimea. Fruit-Inform analysts assess only Ukrainian strawberry exports to Russia through Crimea to exceed 1,000 tons in 2015. As a result, Russia remained one of the largest buyers of Ukrainian berries despite active (since October 2014) ban on imports of Ukrainian fruits and vegetables in the Russian Federation.
