Representatives of Ukrainian greenhouse complexes have once again managed to raise the wholesale prices of available tomato volumes.
Market participants attribute the strengthening of positive price trends to the traditional increase in demand for greenhouse tomatoes at the end of August, while availability decreases due to seasonal factors.
Currently, greenhouse complexes are ready to supply greenhouse tomatoes at prices no lower than $0.85-1.21/kg, which is, on average, 13% higher than the previous week. It should be noted that current tomato prices have been the highest in Ukraine for at least the past seven years!
The primary reason for the price increase, according to market analysts, is the significant reduction in the supply of this product from Ukrainian farms. Due to intense heat, many producers lost part of their harvest. The abnormal weather conditions in July of this year meant that even protected soil did not guarantee the full harvest expected. Additionally, Ukrainian farmers lost a substantial portion of their field tomato harvest, with some losses estimated at 100%.
Meanwhile, the demand for greenhouse vegetables, from both wholesale companies and retail networks, is quite high, which also contributes to the rise in prices.
It is worth noting that tomatoes in Ukraine now cost, on average, three times more than at the end of August last year. Producers do not rule out that the upward price trend in this segment may continue into next week. If this happens, it is quite likely that Ukraine will have the most expensive tomatoes among all countries in the region.
Source: east-fruit