The beginning of the 2021 season for large peach exports from the Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan was characterized by relatively high prices. This means that the average wholesale price for peaches in the country is now on average twice as high as usual price at this period.
The average price for high-quality peaches is now about 30,000 sums ($ 2.8 per kg), while at the same time last year, they cost 18,000 sums ($ 1.8) and 15,000 sums in mid-June 2019.
Peaches are the second most important source of export revenue in the fruit segment of Uzbekistan, after fresh table grapes. In 2020, almost 86,000 tons of peaches worth about $ 65 million were exported. Cherries brought even less revenue to Uzbekistan than peaches last year, so Uzbek growers are reducing apricot plantations in favor of peaches.
The bulk of Uzbek peaches is exported to Russia directly, as well as through Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan recently began to export peaches to Turkmenistan, while small volumes were exported to the UAE, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia.
Despite the almost complete absence of Uzbek peaches on the Russian market, peach prices in Russia are now the lowest in the past few years. This means that the export of Turkish peaches to Russia has increased significantly this year. Turkey is the leader in the export of peaches to Russia by a huge margin from others
That is why an article highlights that prices for peaches may begin to decline dynamically in the near future in Uzbekistan to stimulate export. It is quite possible that the price this year will even repeat the path of cherries price that was much higher at the beginning of the season than a year earlier and ends the season at a lower level than last year. Otherwise, a high demand for peaches from Uzbekistan is not expected – after all, peaches from Moldova, Serbia and even the southern regions of Russia will become available on the market in a few weeks.
