Efficiency of Ukraine's foreign trade in fruit and berry products

The purpose of the article is to study the main indicators of Ukraine's foreign trade in fruits and berries, compare them with similar data from other countries for a comprehensive assessment the effectiveness in export-import operations, identify disadvantages and prospects for national industry. Research methods. Methods used: theoretical generalization - for characterizing the main aspects of Ukraine's foreign trade in agri-food products, analysis and synthesis - for detailing the commodity structure of domestic fruits and berries’ exports and imports, formation a comprehensive assessment of our country as a player in the world fruit market, comparative evaluation - for determining the resource potential of fruit growing industry in the studied countries, providing a world ranking of exporters and importers of fruit and berry products, graphical and tabular - for visualizing the most important statistical indicators. Research results. The characteristics of consumption indicators in key countries of each geographical region are provided, the differentiation of expenditures for organic products, depending on the purchasing power of buyers, is analyzed, a comparison of generalized indicators in the world consumption with the corresponding data for Ukraine is made. The dynamics of the global fruit and berry products’ exports value in recent years is considered, the list of the largest exporting and importing countries of fruits is shown, including countries with the maximum positive and negative balance, statistically determined Ukraine's position in the relevant rankings, available production and resource capacities the horticultural industry of individual countries with Ukraine in the context of the efficiency of fruit and berry exports are compared, our competitiveness in terms of products’ volumes and prices is analyzed. Scientific novelty. The commodity structure of fruits and berries exports in some countries is considered in the context of their comparison with Ukraine and the main indicators of lag are identified, weaknesses in our positioning in the global market, which obstruct the realization of existing potential, are determined. Practical significance. The provisions of the article are aimed at bringing the information about current problems of production and export of fruit and berries to the experts and practitioners of industry, which prevent optimizing their promotion in foreign markets and improving position of Ukraine, and can be used in further activities of specialized enterprises. Tabl.: 1. Figs.: 2. Refs.: 14.