Economy

Potato prices may rise in Ukraine in the next few months: reasons

FORECAST

Recently, the media has been spreading information about the alleged massive import of Polish potatoes to Ukraine. These reports have raised concerns about whether Polish potatoes will displace domestic potatoes from shelves and markets. But Olga Samoilichenko, executive director of the Association of Potato Producers, said in a commentary [Kommersant] notes that most buyers on Ukrainian markets – from small markets to large wholesale platforms such as Shuvar or Stolychnyi – prefer domestic products.

“I can’t say how much, because we don’t have customs statistics yet. But I can say that potato producers say they buy mostly their own potatoes, because at the markets, at large wholesale markets such as Shuvar and Stolychnyi, they buy Ukrainian potatoes better. Polish potatoes may be available, but they are not as well bought, even at a lower price,” says Olga Samoilichenko.

According to her, potato prices are currently stable, but the situation may change with the onset of cold weather: a shortage is expected, and the price of Ukrainian potatoes may equal the price of imported ones.

“Until the cold weather comes, the price will remain as it is now. And then, when it gets cold, there will be a shortage, and we will start to match the price of imported potatoes,” the expert emphasizes.

At the same time, Samoilichenko does not predict a significant rise in the price of potatoes: currently, a kilogram in Poland costs about 6 hryvnias, while in Ukraine it costs about 10, so European prices are still holding back growth in the domestic market.

“In Poland, it costs 6 hryvnias per kilogram, while in Ukraine it costs 10. Most likely, I can’t tell you with a guarantee, but if the European price is low now, it is holding back for us,” Samoilichenko summarized.

As a reminder, as reported by [Kommersant], according to representatives of the Ukrainian Association of Potato Growers, some agricultural enterprises have doubled their potato production this year. This situation may create an oversupply of the product on the market and cause prices to fall compared to previous periods

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