The Russian greenhouse industry has recently undergone large-scale growth, and is implementing a large number of new projects. One of the potential growing markets has been growing strawberries indoors. The Russian consulting firm NEO Consult carefully examined this market segment in a new report.

According to the report, in Russia there are no greenhouses for growing strawberries. In winter, the Russian market has only imported strawberries. All current projects are tunnel greenhouses and unlit greenhouses with plastic film (currently there are no lighting projects during the year).

In autumn, winter and spring, there is practically no domestic production of strawberries, at this time only imported berries are on sale. From March to July, 90% of strawberries are consumed. In addition, about 99.6% of the harvest is harvested during this period.

Modern greenhouse technology (hydroponics, photochemical planting) allows strawberries to be planted annually to meet market demand from autumn to spring, but there are no projects in Russia related to the industrial cultivation of strawberries in a photochemical environment.

In terms of imports, Russia imports about 50 thousand tons of strawberries per year, most of which comes from Belarus.

The potential of Russian strawberry producers is 4.6 thousand tons, which can be achieved by Russia's largest strawberry producer. In the next few years, announced projects will be completed, and its production capacity will increase by 6 thousand tons.

The actual market price of Russian strawberries is significantly higher than the price reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Rosstat), even during peak seasons in the open season.

According to the report, the net operating margin of the plastic film greenhouse project is 35–40%. The year-round project with lighting has a higher profitability of production.