Potato prices in Ukraine have risen sharply, and as of September they are already twice as high as in the same period last year. Today, Ukrainian farmers sell potatoes for UAH 12-18 per kilogram, which indicates a 16% increase in the price in just the last week. This situation causes concern among both consumers and suppliers.

According to the information provided by analysts of the EastFruit project, the main reason for the rapid increase in prices is the high demand for potatoes, which remains both among wholesale buyers and among retail chains. In addition, speculation in the market contributes to the spread of rumors about a possible shortage of quality potatoes this season, which only fuels excitement among buyers.

According to experts, the increase in prices is also related to the decrease in the volume of potato production in Ukraine. Farmers claim that due to unfavorable weather conditions, in particular, abnormal drought in the main growing regions, the yield of this vegetable has decreased significantly. This, in turn, not only affected the quantity of collected products, but also their quality.

The wholesale price of potatoes has already doubled on average compared to September 2023, and this could lead to further increases in retail prices in the coming months. The situation in the market leaves many questions as to whether the price will be able to stabilize or the growth will continue.

Analysts also predict that high demand for potatoes will continue throughout the season. The lack of quality products and the constant increase in the costs of their cultivation and transportation contribute to the fact that the upward trend is likely to continue.

Thus, consumers will have to adapt to new market realities, as prices for one of the most important vegetables in Ukrainian cuisine continue to rise.