Apples have become significantly more expensive. What are the reasons?
2 March 13:49
At the beginning of March 2026, the Ukrainian apple market is showing significant price increases: in supermarkets, varietal apples, in particular Golden Delicious and Red Chief, are selling for approximately 70 UAH per kilogram, according to East-fruit, as reported by
Experts note that the Ukrainian market is gradually moving to a structurally higher price level. Even with a fairly good harvest in 2025, prices did not return to the levels of several years ago.
“Producers and the market as a whole are operating in conditions of significantly higher costs for energy, storage, logistics, and labor. Today, we are already seeing retail prices for high-quality apples at around 70 UAH per kilogram (1.4 EUR/kg), says Kateryna Zvereva, development director of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association and head of the international platform EastFruit.
According to the expert, a few years ago, such price levels seemed unlikely for the mass market. However, this year, the current rise in apple prices is not the limit.
“Given the damage to mainly stone fruit, but also apple orchards caused by winter frosts, the risks of further price increases remain high,” says Kateryna Zvereva.
At the same time, there is still significant price differentiation in the market. Apples can be found at markets for 40 UAH/kg, while supermarkets and discounters offer cheaper options due to smaller sizes or lower quality batches. At the same time, the psychological threshold of 70 UAH/kg for high-quality apples has already been exceeded, notes Zvereva.
The main factors behind the price increase were inflationary pressure, rising storage, logistics, and energy costs, as well as a reduction in the supply of high-quality products at the end of the season.
As previously reported in January by
“Ukraine is quite active in exporting apples, and the volumes are even increasing in some seasons. The geography of supplies is expanding, and the quality of our apples allows us to compete in global markets,” the expert noted.
According to him, foreign exchange earnings from exports also support domestic prices, as producers are focused on foreign demand.
An additional factor contributing to high prices is the high cost of imported bananas, which automatically creates price support for local fruits. Oleksandr Khorev emphasized that the market has already become accustomed to the high prices observed over the last two seasons.
“In April-May, apple prices may rise and will continue to grow until the first berries and fruits of the new 2026 harvest appear,” the expert concluded.
It is expected that the tension in the market will ease only in the summer, when alternative seasonal products appear.
