A more expensive season without a safety margin: farmers’ expenses will increase to UAH 650 billion in 2026
12 January 20:22
Ukrainian agricultural producers are entering the new field season with higher production costs and minimal financial reserves. According to estimates by industry experts, in 2026, the cost of field work will increase by 5–10% —from last year’s nearly UAH 600 billion to UAH 620–650 billion.
These calculations are provided by the industry publication APK-Inform, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
Why costs are rising
According to Oleksandr Zakharchuk, head of the investment and material and technical support department at the Institute of Agrarian Economics, the key financial burdens for farmers remain:
- seeds,
- plant protection products,
- fuel, and fertilizers.
Experts do not predict a sharp jump in prices, as farmers purchased a significant part of their material and technical resources back in 2025. At the same time, costs may rise during the season due to labor shortages, rising fuel prices, and inflationary pressure.
One of the most sensitive factors remains the cost of diesel fuel.
In 2025, due to an increase in excise tax, farmers spent an additional UAH 5.7 billion on fuel, which meant an increase in price of approximately 10%.
In 2026, according to Zakharchuk’s estimates, inflation could add another 10-12% to the retail price of fuel.
Fertilizers: stability with risk
The situation on the mineral fertilizer market in 2025 was uneven:
- some prices stabilized,
- while others continued to rise.
In 2026, farmers plan to apply 1.8–1.9 million tons of fertilizers in active ingredient — approximately 85–90 kg per hectare, as last year.
At the same volumes, their cost may increase by 5–7%, primarily due to the rise in the price of nitrogen fertilizers.
The increase in production costs is occurring against the backdrop of a difficult export situation. In 2025, Ukraine exported $22.53 billion worth of agricultural products, which is 8.8% less than a year earlier.
At the same time, grain export rates accelerated at the end of the year, and in January 2026, the state opened applications for modular grain storage facilities for agricultural producers.
