Ukrainian retail warns of the possibility of a price increase for a number of goods

Market operators are looking for alternative routes for the supply of products, and this increases the cost of each flight and leads to an increase in the prices of a number of products for end consumers. As noted in the Association of Retailers of Ukraine, the situation is gaining a critical scale due to the fact that the total waiting time for crossing the border in some cases reaches a month. This forces operators to look for alternative routes, in particular through neighboring states. This leads to an extension of the delivery time by 2-3 days and increases the cost of each flight. All this can lead to an increase in prices for a number of goods.

In addition, domestic manufacturers are currently faced with the lack of necessary components, equipment or packaging coming from abroad. This may also cause a shortage of certain categories of goods on the Ukrainian market. The situation is especially critical for chains that import products, in particular vegetables, fruits, fish, cereals and dairy products, if it is impossible to ensure packaging and proper temperature conditions.

At the same time, as experts note, one of the reactions to the situation at the border was a growing wave of refusal of Ukrainians to buy Polish goods. It becomes a symbolic sign of protest against actions that are perceived as unjust. In turn, Polish political scientist and journalist Marek Sierant previously emphasized that he does not rule out a consumer boycott of products from Poland in Ukraine due to the inappropriate behavior of protesters at the border. In his opinion, even if Ukraine does not block the market for Polish manufacturers at the official level, Ukrainian citizens can do it simply by a consumer boycott. At the same time, the behavior of Polish protesters, in his opinion, destroys everything that Polish society has done for Ukraine since the beginning of the war. He added that he had seen posts by ordinary citizens in Poland on social networks that they would also boycott Polish products.

The political scientist also added that blocking the border with Ukraine by Polish farmers undermines trust in Poland as a reliable partner and harms not only the Ukrainian, but also the Polish economy. According to him, Poland is beginning to turn into an unreliable partner both in terms of transit and in fact being the hub of Ukraine - military, humanitarian, etc. Therefore, the question arises - who manages Poland and the border, who protects law and order in the country. According to Sierant, he has many more questions for the Polish authorities than the citizens of Ukraine, because he is used to living according to certain principles and does not agree to the restriction of his rights by those people to whom he did not give permission.

In this regard, we would like to remind you that the Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, also emphasized that the blocking of transport on the Polish border will have serious socio-political consequences for both countries.