Potatoes for 170 UAH: why Ukrainian vegetables are more expensive than imported ones and when should we expect them to become cheaper?

A strange situation has arisen on the Ukrainian market for young potatoes: imported products have turned out to be cheaper than domestic ones. This forces consumers to choose between cost and freshness, and the difference in price can reach significant values.

As noted by Maksym Hopka, an analyst at the Ukrainian Agrarian Business Club, the market has been divided into two main segments. The cheap segment is represented by imports from European countries and Egypt, while the more expensive segment is stuffed early Ukrainian potatoes and several premium options.

According to the expert, there is no shortage of products, but their prices differ significantly. The consumer is actually faced with a choice: choose a product at a lower price or buy a local, freshly harvested product.

This is also confirmed by numerical data: on average, the price of young potatoes in Ukraine is approximately 50 hryvnias per kilogram. In retail chains, the price varies from 54 to over 300 hryvnias, depending on the variety and origin. For example, imported potatoes from Egypt cost less than 40 hryvnias, while in Ukrainian supermarkets the cost of local potatoes can reach 150-170 hryvnias per kilogram.

The main reason for this price imbalance is the high costs of growing early Ukrainian potatoes, which require special technologies and energy resources. In addition, the volumes of such a crop are still limited.

In contrast, imported supplies are made in large batches, which makes it possible to maintain lower prices, even taking into account logistics costs.

Experts believe that the situation will change in the near future. The mass of young Ukrainian potatoes is expected in the second half of May, which will lead to an increase in supply and a gradual decrease in prices.