The price of key food products will continue to rise in Ukraine

During the current year, Ukrainian experts expect an increase in the prices of some food products. Currently, these forecasts apply to bread, dairy and meat products. As noted by the expert Oleg Pendzyn, this year there are no prerequisites for reducing the cost of the announced products at all. In general, prices for Ukrainian products will remain at a fairly stable level, the expert emphasized. But the cost of imports will be tied to two main factors - the stability of the Ukrainian hryvnia and the situation at the borders of Ukraine, where the blockade of cargo checkpoints continues.

It should be noted that according to the results of 2023, the prices of potatoes (+64.5%), apples (+35.4%) and beef (+19.9%) increased the most in Ukraine. At the same time, the cost of buckwheat (-59.2%), onions (-50.7%) and carrots (-48.9%) decreased. The prices of dairy products, bread, fish and a number of vegetables also increased. As an example, potato prices in Ukraine broke the record again and they began to be sold at 18-25 UAH/kg, which is 12% higher than last week's prices. Compared to 2023, potatoes are sold four times more expensive. Most of the market players are confident in the further increase in the price of potatoes in Ukraine. Information about a possible shortage of high-quality potatoes until the end of the current season has a negative effect on the price situation. According to experts, the harvest supply was limited due to the low harvest observed in many regions of Ukraine. In addition, farmers reported problems related to potato quality. Currently, stocks of high-quality potatoes in Ukrainian farms are very limited. The demand for it continues to grow. In such conditions, according to experts, prices will continue to rise. It should be noted that in January of last year, the price of potatoes rose rapidly and Ukraine began to import them from other countries.

According to analysts, potato prices have now reached an impressive level of 18-23 hryvnias per kilogram, which is four times higher than last year's prices. The reasons for the jump in prices are related to: difficulties with growing potatoes due to unpredictable weather conditions, which prompted farmers to revise their agrarian priorities in favor of other vegetables; a decrease in the harvest in Europe; product quality that does not meet the requirements of long-term storage. Current circumstances indicate complex dynamics in the potato market in Ukraine, where price volatility is caused by both internal production challenges and external trade factors.

It should also be noted that tomatoes imported from Turkey have risen in price by 20% in Ukraine. On the other hand, as of January 26, the main sales of greenhouse cucumbers were made at UAH 70-100/kg, which is on average 10% cheaper than at the end of last week. The price of beet has also fallen, it goes on sale at UAH 10-14/kg, which is on average 14% cheaper than at the end of the last working week.