Onions in Ukraine are rising sharply in price: causes and possible consequences

Ukraine is experiencing a significant increase in onion prices, which is associated with a shortage of quality products on the market. This week, producers have significantly increased prices, citing increased demand and reduced supply.

According to EastFruit analysts, the main reason for the situation was the refusal of some farms to sell products from storage. This limits the availability of high-quality onions, increasing the imbalance between demand and supply. At the same time, medium and low-quality vegetables have practically disappeared from the market, which also affects the overall price level.

Today, the price of quality onions fluctuates within 12–17 UAH per kilogram (equivalent to $0.29–0.41), which is 35% higher than the level at the end of last week. Compared to the same period in 2023, the growth is 16%. Such dynamics are of concern to both consumers and agricultural market experts.

At the same time, analysts note that the current situation is also artificial. Some producers refrain from selling, hoping for a further increase in prices. This creates an additional deficit, which further destabilizes the market and provokes new price jumps.

Experts predict that by the end of the week, Ukraine may become the leader in the cost of onions among the countries of the region. If the trend continues, imports of this product may begin much earlier than usual. This will not only affect the domestic market, but will also affect pricing for end consumers.

Thus, the situation on the onion market requires an immediate response. Solving the problem of the shortage of a quality product requires the active involvement of agricultural sector participants and, possibly, state support to ensure price stability and availability of a strategically important vegetable.