Escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf region and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are forcing Ukrainian apple exporters to rapidly redesign their supply chains to key Middle Eastern markets, EastFruit reports, citing AgroTimes.
According to Volodymyr Gurzhiy, head of USPA Fruit, exporters were initially forced to temporarily suspend shipments while companies assessed the situation and developed alternative logistics solutions.
Ukrainian apples are now being shipped through Jeddah port in Saudi Arabia, from where the fruit continues by road across the Arabian Peninsula to markets including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Exporters are also testing a more radical alternative: transporting refrigerated truckloads entirely by land from Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region directly to Dubai.
The new routes allow suppliers to maintain access to Gulf markets despite maritime disruptions, but they come at a considerable cost.
According to Gurzhiy, logistics expenses for a standard 20-ton shipment of apples have increased by several thousand US dollars.
The situation highlights the growing importance of logistics flexibility for Ukrainian fruit exporters, particularly in distant premium markets where maintaining an uninterrupted cold chain, predictable delivery schedules and competitive transport costs is critical.
For Ukraine’s apple industry, the Gulf countries remain an important export destination. However, the latest disruptions demonstrate how geopolitical risks along major shipping corridors can quickly affect both the cost and competitiveness of fresh produce exports.
The use of the site materials is free if there is a direct and open for search engines hyperlink to a specific publication of the East-Fruit.com website.