The rise in potato prices in Ukraine continues, as reported by EastFruit analysts. Regular monitoring data indicates that positive price trends have been observed for over a month, starting from the last decade of September this year. Traditionally, potato prices in Ukraine do not increase during the first autumn month due to the active harvest season, which brings large volumes of produce to the market that farmers try to sell quickly. During this period, both medium and low-quality potatoes, which are not suitable for long-term storage, as well as high-quality products that producers do not plan or are unable to store, are sold. Consequently, this season in the Ukrainian potato market has already become exceptional.
As of today, in the main production regions, potatoes are offered for sale at 20-30 UAH/kg ($0.48-0.73/kg), depending on the variety, quality, and volume of the batches offered, which is on average 18% higher than at the end of last week. It can be stated that potato prices continue to set new records for the last decade.
According to key market players, the positive price trend in this segment is due to several factors. This week, most Ukrainian farmers reported the completion of potato shipments directly from the field, resulting in farms offering this produce from storage, where prices are traditionally higher. Additionally, the limited supply of potatoes on the market continues to support prices due to a significant decrease in the yield of this crop in the current season. It should be noted that the maximum damage to the future harvest, according to producers, was caused by the dry and hot weather in Ukraine throughout July this year.
Potato prices in Ukraine remain the highest among all the countries monitored by the project. This fact allows for predictions that significant volumes of imported products will enter the domestic market in the first half of the current season. According to experts, it is with the start of mass imports that the price situation in the Ukrainian potato market may stabilize.
It is worth noting that as of today, the price of potatoes in Ukraine is on average 2.9 times higher than at the end of October 2023. Meanwhile, major market players are in no hurry to sell their main volumes of potatoes, as they expect further price increases in this segment.
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