Up to 45 hryvnias per kilogram: what is happening with potato prices and what to expect in March.

Potato prices in Ukraine may reach 45 hryvnias per kilogram in March 2025 due to a reduction in stocks and deterioration in product quality.

According to State Statistics, potato volumes in storage have decreased by 30% compared to the same period in 2023. Summer drought and abnormal heat in July 2024 led to a loss of 20-50% of the harvest in central and eastern Ukraine.

As of February 2025, the average price of potatoes in supermarkets ranges from 28.90 to 40.50 hryvnias per kilogram depending on the region and variety. On the wholesale market, the price varies from 22 to 30 hryvnias, which is 16% higher than in January 2024.

The situation is complicated by the fact that about 70% of the harvest is collected by households and small farmers who do not have access to modern storage technologies. Only 15% of farms use refrigeration chambers, while in the EU this figure reaches 80%.

In 2024, Ukraine became a net importer of potatoes for the first Time in the last 10 years. Imports from Poland, Lithuania, and Egypt exceeded 15 thousand tons, while exports amounted to only 760 tons. However, imported potatoes could not stabilize prices due to high logistics costs.