In 2026, Ukrainian agricultural producers will face a further increase in costs for conducting a complex of field works. According to experts, the total cost of such work for the agricultural sector will increase by 5–10% compared to the previous year and will reach UAH 620–650 billion against almost UAH 600 billion in 2025.

This was reported by the industry publication APK-Inform. The publication emphasizes that farmers are entering a new production season with an already high cost of growing crops and a very limited margin of financial stability.

As noted by the head of the investment and material and technical support department of the National Scientific Center "Institute of Agrarian Economics", corresponding member of the NAAS Oleksandr Zakharchuk, the main financial burden for agribusiness continues to be the costs of seeds and plant protection products. These items form a significant part of the production cost.

According to the expert, a sharp jump in prices in 2026 is not expected, since a significant part of the material and technical resources was purchased by farmers back in 2025. At the same time, during the year, other factors may affect the increase in costs, primarily the shortage of labor, as well as the prices of fuel and mineral fertilizers.

Fuel remains one of the key components of costs in crop production. Oleksandr Zakharchuk recalled that in 2025, the purchase of diesel fuel required an additional UAH 5.7 billion due to an increase in the excise tax, which led to a 10% increase in cost. In 2026, according to his estimates, inflationary processes may add another 10–12% to the current selling prices of fuel.

The situation on the mineral fertilizer market also remains heterogeneous. During the previous period, prices for individual items stabilized, while others continued to rise in price. In 2026, this item of expenditure for farmers may increase even more.

At the same time, the volume of fertilizer application will not change significantly. This year, farmers plan to use approximately 1.8–1.9 million tons of mineral fertilizers in active substance, which corresponds to the level of last year and is about 85–90 kg per hectare.

According to the forecast of Oleksandr Zakharchuk, even with unchanged volumes of application, the cost of mineral fertilizers may increase by 5–7%. The key factor in such an increase will be the increase in prices for nitrogen fertilizers, which traditionally occupy a significant share in the cost structure of agricultural enterprises.