Fish prices in Ukraine are set to rise by a third: the main reasons for the price increase
8 April 09:15
Rising fuel prices, a decline in supply within the European Union, and reliance on imports are driving up the cost of fish in Ukraine. Some items have already become two to three times more expensive. Prices are projected to rise by an average of 20–30% across various segments.
This was reported to Delo.ua by Lyubomyr Haidamaka, head of the “Fish of Ukraine” association and an expert in the fishing industry, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Fishermen have already felt the impact of rising fuel prices
The impact of rising diesel fuel prices due to the war with Iran on Ukraine’s fishing industry is significant. At the same time, it is important to understand the cost structure, Haidamaka noted.
According to him, industrial fishing in Ukraine primarily uses gasoline, which has also become significantly more expensive. Therefore, the direct impact of rising fuel prices is already being felt by fishermen.
“Diesel, on the other hand, is used primarily in logistics, product transportation, and to power generators at aquaculture farms. Consequently, the rise in diesel prices indirectly but significantly impacts the cost of fish,” the expert said.
Imported fish is getting more expensive: by how much
According to the latest data, the average price of frozen fish in Ukraine already exceeds 220–230 UAH per kg. At the same time, significant price variations are observed for certain items depending on the segment, noted Haidamaka.
Herring retails for approximately 200–260 UAH/kg, mackerel—220–300 UAH/kg in the mass market segment with some items reaching up to 350 UAH/kg, hake—around 180–220 UAH/kg in retail and significantly cheaper in wholesale.
It is important to understand that it is the mass market segment that drives the main demand, and it is there that a gradual but steady increase is currently taking place, the expert noted.
Over the past year, prices for major imported fish species have risen by approximately 20–40% depending on the item, and even more in certain segments, Haidamaka reported.
“In the coming months, an additional increase of 15–25% is expected, which is directly linked to rising fuel and logistics costs and a reduction in supply on the European market,” the source stated.
River fish catching up with imports: prices rising
River fish is also already showing significant growth and will continue to become more expensive, Haidamaka warned.
Basic species, such as silver carp, grass carp, or bream, are in the range of 85–150 UAH/kg, but we are already seeing some items significantly higher. For example, crucian carp is around 200 UAH/kg, and Danube herring is up to 600 UAH/kg, which is 2–3 times more than last year, the expert said.
“In the coming months, prices are expected to rise by another 20–30%, as this segment begins to compensate for the import shortage,” noted the head of the “Fish of Ukraine” association.
European context: EU shortage drives up prices in Ukraine
A decline in production due to high diesel fuel prices and overall energy costs is leading to a reduction in supply on the EU market, explained Haidamaka.
“This automatically creates a shortage and drives up prices, which directly affects Ukraine as an import-dependent market for marine fish,” the expert noted.
He noted that at the same time, this opens a certain “window of opportunity” for Ukrainian producers, especially in the freshwater fish and aquaculture segments, but this potential is limited due to internal problems within the industry.
Frozen fish imports at risk
The key risks regarding frozen fish imports from the EU are not only fuel prices but also disruptions in logistics chains, reduced catches, competition for resources among countries, and possible administrative restrictions on exports within Europe itself, the expert explained.
“Temporary supply disruptions are quite likely, especially during peak periods or if the situation in the Middle East escalates further. In that case, the Ukrainian market will be forced to either pay more or shift more quickly toward domestic production,” Haidamaka noted.
In conclusion, he emphasized that the fuel factor is now becoming one of the key drivers of rising fish prices, and this trend is long-term in nature.
The Ukrainian Fish Market
As of 2025, the Ukrainian fish market remains critically dependent on imports. According to official data, imports amount to 348,000 tons, while domestic catch stands at 44,700 tons and aquaculture at approximately 10,800 tons.
At the same time, according to the head of the “Fish of Ukraine” association, the structure of this catch is significantly skewed.
The largest share of commercial catch comes from waters outside Ukraine’s jurisdiction—about 20,160 tons—and this consists mainly of Antarctic krill and other specialized raw materials that do not actually enter Ukraine’s domestic market. Consequently, this resource does not affect the availability of fish for Ukrainian consumers, Haidamaka explained.
Taking this structure into account, as well as the existence of a significant black market segment estimated at approximately 40,000 tons, the actual catch that supplies the domestic market remains very limited, the expert noted.
“That is why it is reasonable to say that the share of imported fish in Ukraine actually amounts to 93–95%, excluding the shadow market,” said Haidamaka.
The key reason for this is the lack of a unified state system for electronic accompanying documents and traceability of animal products, as well as the absence of an organized market for aquatic biological resources, which leads to a loss of control over product circulation and the underreporting of official figures.
Freshwater fish can partially replace imports, but this potential is limited. In the short term, we are talking about a maximum of 10–15% of the market. The main constraints are production capacity, access to financing, and systemic issues with industry regulation.
