An Argentine newspaper has lamented the prospects of the country's fruit exporters this year due to their dependence on two markets with weaker currencies - the European Union and Russia.

Newspaper Rio Negro emphasized the damages would be felt by growers in the southern provinces of Neuquén and Rio Negro.

"Currently our region sends around 40% of its total overseas shipments to Europe each year. In absolute terms, this percentage equates to some 140,000 [metric] tons of pears and apples," the newspaper's editorial staff said.

"During the last season, precisely in April 2014 the euro was placed at US$1.39. Therefore for the start of this trading stage, the region fruit industry would part with US$0.21 for every euro traded in the different markets of Europe."

The newspaper estimated this could lead to a loss in revenue of around US$23 million.

"The strength of the dollar in the international market is leading to serious difficulties for the rest of the world's currencies," Rio Negro said.

"The majority of fruit-growing countries opted to devalue their currencies and therefore improve their competitiveness at the point of sale, to compensate for this offensive from the dollar in the market. In Argentina this possibility is prohibited."

The editorial staff highlighted that Russia, where growers from Patagonian Argentina send around 30% of their fruit exports, had witness an 80% fall in its currency over the last 12 months.

"In January last year the dollar traded at 33 rubles. The collapse suffered in oil prices took at to 70 rubles in mid-December, to stabilize at around 60 rubles in recent days. For [Alto Rio Negro] Valley exporters, Russia has already ceased to exist as a market."

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