Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Categories: Cut Flowers, Market research
Traditionally, most flowers heading for European markets enter the European Union via Amsterdam airport, located near the Dutch auctions. From mid-2009, however, many Dutch importers developed a preference for Belgian airports.
Importing fresh flowers through Belgium was, and still is, easier, due to the availability of night flights, handling benefits, lower costs, and smoother customs procedures and phytosanitary checks.
For as long as they last, the advantages are worth the effort (see figure).
Source: ProVerde
Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Categories: Kenya, News, Requirements
Europe has issued a fresh warning of possible revenue losses for Kenya should the East African Community (EAC) fails to reach a trade deal soon.
“Kenya risks taxation on its exports to Europe by virtue of economic strength if the trade talks stall”, Mr Bernard Rey, head of the European Delegation told players in the horticulture sector. “EAC should realise the risks of the current situation of uncertainty. Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, all are least-developed countries, will enjoy duty-free quota access to the EU markets even if the EPA (economic partnership agreement) is not signed,” Mr Rey
said. “But Kenya will risk seeing tariffs imposed on a good number of exports to Europe including horticulture products”.
Read more »
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011
Categories: EU, News
2010 was an important year for the Belgian distribution market. This was the year Dutch supermarket Albert Heijn officially confirmed its arrival, Delhaize started an offensive and Carrefour also showed a fighting spirit again. With the Dutch threat so definitive all of a sudden, there even was the possibility of a price war.
But what was the actual result for the supermarkets and what was the real result according to the figures? Following a good annual tradition Marketing Map prepared their report.
Read more »
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011
Categories: Fruit & vegetables, News
All 27 EU member states will have to adhere to new rules on food labelling, giving consumers more information about the nutritional aspects of packaged food products. The new EU food labelling laws were given the last nod by the European Parliament last week and are expected to enter into force in three years’ time, giving food manufacturers ample time to adapt to the new regime.
Read more »
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011
Categories: Fruit & vegetables, Poland
In 2010/11, Poland’s fruit and vegetable output recorded notable declines due to adverse weather patterns. Tighter raw material stocks should reflect itself in lower output of fruit and vegetable preserves for nearly every product. In 2011/12, horticultural production should rebound but farmers and processors must face new challenges holding unforeseen consequences on the market, such as rising costs, lingering concerns over E Coli and Russia’s embargo of Polish fresh vegetables. Initial forecasts are for increased production of juices and exports of fresh apples, stronger export prices for strawberries but weaker for fresh apples and apple juice.
Read more »