Watermelon prices fell in Ukraine due to increased supply
15 August 2025 15:16
In Ukraine, watermelon prices have fallen by almost a third due to the resumption of harvesting and an increase in supply on the market. According to EastFruit, the melons are currently being sold at 5-15 UAH/kg ($0.12-0.36/kg), which is 31% cheaper on average than a week ago, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Farmers attribute the reduction in price to the accelerated ripening of watermelons due to the heat, as well as the drought in the south, which affected their quality. The biggest drop in price was for large watermelons, which are not in high demand by consumers. Due to weak sales, wholesale and retail chains are reducing purchases of such products.
At the same time, analysts emphasize that current watermelon prices are still 78% higher than in August 2024. Growth is possible only for high quality fruits, which are not abundant on the market. But watermelons weighing more than 5 kg are likely to fall further as farmers try to sell off their leftovers quickly.
In the Zhytomyr region, the situation is complicated by fusarium, which affected watermelons after the July rains.
Harvest of melons in Ukraine – 2025
1. Sowing and regional structure
- Poltava region became the leader in melons and gourds in 2025, with the area under watermelons and melons exceeding 5,000 hectares, which is more than 2,000 hectares more than last year.
- TheKherson region (partially controlled) also remains important, with farmers planting watermelons on 1,500 hectares and melons on 400 hectares.
- Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions remain the traditional centers of production, although climatic conditions are destabilizing the growing process.
2. Yields are average
- The season is estimated to be average, probably due to reduced areas and negative weather factors (late spring, frosts, drought).
- In Poltava region, yields are expected to be in the range of 40-60 t/ha (~80 c/ha), although farmers expect a decrease of at least 25-30% due to unfavorable spring weather.
3. Prices – seasonal decline
- The melon season started earlier than usual – in mid-July. However, starting prices were higher due to limited supply.
- By the end of July, local wholesale prices for watermelons were 5-14 UAH/kg. The previous decline was down to minus 36% in a week.
- In stores, retail prices varied more widely:
- ATB – 19.89 UAH/kg, seedless variety – 29.89 UAH/kg;
- Varus – from 19.90 to 39.90 UAH/kg depending on the variety;
- Silpo – from 23 UAH/kg, up to 79.50 UAH/kg (imported, organic varieties).
- In mid-August, prices are expected to drop further to 7-10 UAH/kg for the mass domestic supply.
4. Growing outside the South – a strategic reorientation
- The recovery of production in the southern regions is offset by the expansion of melons in new areas – Volyn, Sumy and Chernihiv regions.
- This is primarily due to the introduction of new hybrids adapted to a wider climatic range, which has significantly supported the stability of the domestic market.
