Beet prices are falling: what is happening on the market
25 February 21:24
Ukrainian farmers are ready to ship table beets at a price of 5–10 UAH per kilogram, depending on the quality and volume of the batch. This is on average 12% cheaper than a week earlier.
This was reported by the analytical platform EastFruit, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
At the beginning of February, farms were selling beets at a price range of 6–11 UAH/kg — at that time, prices were rising.
Why prices went down
According to market participants, the key factor is an increase in supply from local farms.
Due to power outages, the quality of products in the storage facilities of small farmers is rapidly deteriorating. To avoid losses, producers are trying to sell their stocks quickly, which is putting pressure on prices.
Different strategies for large and small
Large farms, which have generators and more stable storage conditions, behave differently. According to market data, they are temporarily suspending sales, unwilling to enter the market during a period of high supply and low prices.
This imbalance creates a situation where the bulk of the product comes from small producers who are forced to sell faster.
Prices compared to last year
As of now, table beets in Ukraine cost on average 59% less than during the same period last year.
This is a significant difference, indicating the overall weakness of the market compared to last season.
Is a reversal possible?
This season’s harvest was relatively modest, and stocks of quality products are limited.
If supply decreases and large producers step up sales later, the market may face a shortage of high-quality goods, and then prices will rise again.
