In 2024, Ukraine became the world leader in net exports of frozen raspberries for the first time, surpassing Poland and Serbia, the long-time leader in this segment. EastFruit reported this.
In the calendar year 2024, Ukraine’s exports of frozen raspberries reached a record 65 thousand tons, a 34% increase over the previous year. This was much faster growth than that of any other major exporter.
In general, over the past three seasons, Ukraine’s volume of frozen raspberry exports has more than doubled, Serbia has maintained its performance at the same level, and Poland has reduced exports by 24%.
It is noted that Ukraine imports only small volumes of raspberries, unlike Serbia and especially Poland, which actively purchase them abroad. The share of imported raspberries in Polish exports exceeds 52%, with the bulk of Poland’s purchases coming from Ukraine.
In fact, almost half of the frozen raspberries exported by Poland are of Ukrainian origin. The affordable Ukrainian raspberries allow this country to maintain its position among the world market leaders.
If we analyze net exports, Ukraine supplies 65 thousand tons of frozen raspberries to foreign markets, compared to Poland’s only about 16 thousand tons. Thus, in 2024, Ukraine exported four times more frozen raspberries than Poland.
Interestingly, Ukraine is still slightly behind Serbia in terms of total exports of frozen raspberries. In 2024, Serbia exported 67.7 thousand tons of raspberries, while Ukraine exported 65.1 thousand tons.
However, Serbia imported 4.7 thousand tons for further re-export, which reduced its net exports to 63 thousand tons, 2 thousand tons less than Ukraine.
From 2022 to 2024, Poland’s share of Ukrainian raspberry exports decreased from 63% to 35%. At the same time, the share of Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and France, the key markets for Polish exporters, indirect exports from Ukraine more than doubled to 48%.
Ukraine is actively gaining market share in Poland, which has been made possible by improving the quality of its products and their processing level.
Over the past three years, Ukraine’s exports of frozen raspberries to Germany have increased 4.5 times, to the Czech Republic 4.2 times, to Austria 33 times, and to France twice. In 2024, Ukraine exported over 2,000 tons of raspberries to Belgium, Italy, and Lithuania for the first time.
In addition, Ukraine is rapidly increasing its exports of frozen raspberries to Canada and the United States, markets that offer significantly higher prices than the EU. Three years ago, Ukraine did not supply products to these countries, and now it often outperforms its Polish competitors in exports.
Unusual export destinations for frozen raspberries include the first commercial deliveries of Ukrainian products to Argentina and Saudi Arabia.
Given the high prices for raspberries in the previous season, EastFruit analysts predict that in 2025 and in the 2025/26 season, Ukraine will update its raspberry export records and strengthen its leadership.
In particular 2025, Ukraine may overtake Serbia regarding total exports of frozen raspberries.
