Ukraine has resorted to importing potatoes for the first time in four years

In September, to cover the deficit of several potato varieties, Ukraine was forced to import them; however, imports may continue after the main stocks of domestic potatoes are depleted. According to Evgeny Kuzin, an analyst in the fruit and vegetable market for the "EastFruit" project, the issue of the quality of grown potatoes has become the number one topic among farmers in European countries. At the same time, the area under cultivation in the main EU producing countries has reached one of the highest levels in recent years.

There are also difficulties with the quality of seed material, which are felt across the entire European region and North Africa due to reduced production of seed potatoes in previous seasons. All of this has led to Ukraine being forced to import potatoes in September for the first time since 2020, specifically during the harvest season, for winter storage. Currently, relatively small batches of potatoes are being imported from Poland and Lithuania, as well as products from Turkey. There is no mass import at the levels seen in 2019-2020. The existing supplies appear to be a temporary solution to cover the deficit during the period between mid-season and late varieties.

However, analysts suggest that in the future, imports in the Ukrainian market may increase, and the price of potatoes could rise. Currently, there is an opinion that potatoes in Ukrainian supermarkets this winter may cost 50-55 UAH per kilogram. The reasons for such an increase in price are attributed to drought and hard soil, which prevented a full harvest in some regions. As noted by the Ukrainian Club of Agrarian Business, potatoes are currently 2.5 times more expensive than last year. A realistic scenario could even see prices slightly higher, reaching 60 UAH per kilogram.