Large Apple Stocks in Serbia and Europe
During last week's parliamentary debate on draft laws, apples and their prices on export and domestic markets were also discussed. Minister of Agriculture Dragan Glamočić emphasized that fruit crop prices vary and pointed out that Serbian apples are the cheapest on the domestic market. Regarding the claims of Miroslav Aleksić, head of the People's Movement of Serbia parliamentary group, that apples are sold in supermarkets for 239 dinars and exported for 60 dinars, Glamočić stated that this is demagoguery and that there are clear mechanisms for regulating the market, adding that he advocates for lower margins. Professor Zoran Keserović from the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad noted that apple prices in supermarkets range from 140 to 250 dinars and that large retailers offer both domestic and imported apples from cold storage. He agreed that these prices are significantly higher than what producers receive, especially small ones, but pointed out that Serbian producers are not shareholders in cold storage facilities like in the EU, where they have investments and profit-sharing agreements. Keserović believes producers should improve yield and quality, as the variety structure is not poor. He suggested that incentives should be higher for fruit growers than for grain farmers due to higher investments in fruit farming, and that fruit has been the leading agricultural export product for years. He also proposed prioritizing domestic fruit growers in public procurement and implementing marketing campaigns on the importance of fruit in nutrition and favoring domestic products. The article notes that fruit growers in the European Union are also facing difficulties this season, with higher apple stocks in cold storage compared to last year. According to data from February 1st, stored apples in the EU reached 3.4 million tons, a 12.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025. European apple prices have returned to a five-year average, 12% cheaper than last year, but with significant regional differences. Serbia also has higher apple stocks than last year, with apple production surpassing plum production for the first time in 2023 and continuing in 2025. An expected increase in apple yield this year might lead to surpluses, potentially posing a problem due to global events. While European producers are in a difficult position with low profits, Serbian large-scale producers can earn double the profit per hectare compared to Italy. The current export price is considered relatively satisfactory given the circumstances, with exports to European countries continuing, while exports to distant destinations are slowed by conflicts.
