Winter trade in watermelons in Poland

2021-02-05 11:43

Watermelons are undoubtedly one of the symbols of summer. Poland receives most of them in July. Last July, 43.2 thousand tons of this fruit were imported to Poland (3.5 thousand tons less than a year earlier). Italy remains the main summer supplier of watermelons to Poland.

Winter realities are completely different. The volume of imports is shrinking drastically. It is smallest in December. In January and February, usually the volume of watermelons coming to Poland increases. For example, in December 2019, 767 tonnes were imported (56 times less than in July), and in February 2020 it was 961 tonnes. The main supplier in winter is invariably Brazil.

Of course, import prices for fruit from South America are significantly higher than importing it in season from Italy or Spain, or from even closer locations such as Ukraine and Hungary. Transport prices are even higher this season because of the pandemic.

This can also be seen in the trade of imported watermelons on the Polish wholesale market. Their wholesale prices are now 4.50-5.00 zlotys per kilo, or an average of 4.75 zlotys per kilo, and a year ago it was 3.80 zlotys per kilo. That year, the end of February saw a significant increase in watermelon prices, but this was due to the outbreak of the pandemic and perturbations with logistics. This year February and March should be more stable in this respect.

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