Prices for greenhouse cucumbers in Ukraine have fallen: what is the reason?
12 December 19:55
In Ukraine this week, selling prices for greenhouse cucumbers have started to fall – a trend that looks atypical for the beginning of December. This is reported by analysts at EastFruit, noting that producers took this step due to a sharp cooling of demand, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
What is happening to prices
As of this week, greenhouse cucumbers are sold at 90-120 UAH per kilogram – on average 10% cheaper than before. This happened after wholesalers and retailers began to refuse to buy large quantities, explaining it by weak sales rates.
As a result, farmers’ warehouses accumulated significant amounts of unsold products, the quality of which is gradually deteriorating. Market operators call the price reduction a forced decision, which should help to unload warehouses.
Why it is atypical
For this market segment, the first decade of December is usually characterized by stable or growing demand. The current situation, according to analysts, has become an exception: consumers are buying cucumbers less actively, and retailers are in no hurry to replenish the shelves with large volumes of greenhouse products.
What may happen next
Despite the current cheapening, cucumber prices are still around 13% higher than last year. EastFruit suggests that the fall may be temporary and the market could return to growth as early as next week.
This comes on the back of wholesale prices being the highest in at least eight years just a few days ago – a difference that demonstrates how volatile the vegetable segment remains at the end of the season.
