Potatoes will not become cheaper: what is the reason and why Ukrainians will have to get used to it.

The high price of potatoes in Ukraine will last until the new harvest

Potato prices in Ukraine will remain high at least until the new harvest or even longer, said Andriy Marushchak, commercial director of Van Dijk Technics. He explained that the current price of potatoes corresponds to the prices of imported products from the Netherlands, Poland, and Lithuania, as the domestic market lacks high-quality domestic potatoes.

The deficit of domestic potatoes arose due to the poor harvest of seed potatoes in the Netherlands in 2023 and unfavorable weather conditions during the harvest in 2024. The price has also been influenced by the increase in the cost of pesticides, fertilizers, labor, and electricity.

Information also adds that potato prices in Ukraine slightly decreased after two weeks of stability. Farmers are now forced to sell potatoes below previous prices due to decreased demand and worsening quality due to prolonged storage. It is also noted that although prices have decreased, potatoes are still 21% more expensive than in February 2024.

The government also recently provided a forecast regarding food prices for the coming months.