Increased imports of potatoes from Poland, Lithuania and Latvia

Since January 4, 2024, amid record potato prices in Ukraine, large-scale supplies of this product from Poland, as well as from Lithuania and Latvia, the volumes of which are measured in hundreds of tons, have started.

According to EastFruit, analysts note that potato prices are rising rapidly in Ukraine, which has led to an increase in imports of this product to the domestic market.

Andriy Yarmak, an economist at the investment department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), emphasizes that wholesale potato prices in Ukraine have set new records, surpassing the highest level in history. Over the past year, prices for this product have increased by 3.5-4.0 times. As a result, prices of Ukrainian potatoes have risen sharply by 40% over the past three weeks, exceeding prices in neighboring EU countries, making potato imports economically viable.

Producers point to the negative impact of the traditional factor of unfavorable weather conditions in Ukraine, which have significantly affected the quality and yield of potatoes. According to Yarmak, the last few seasons were characterized by the fact that wholesale prices did not reflect the cost of growing, which led to a decrease in production volumes, as many producers switched to other crops.

The expert also points out that some small producers and households have reduced the scale of potato cultivation, which, together with unfavorable weather conditions, has led to a shortage of quality product on the domestic market of Ukraine.