At the wholesale market "Shuvar," the largest in Western Ukraine, there is an observed increase in cucumber prices. As of January 10, 2024, the prices for imported cucumbers range from 1.6 to 2 euros per kilogram, which is 18-20% higher than the previous year. Domestic greenhouse cucumbers, in turn, reach 3.8 euros per kilogram, surpassing last year's prices by 40%.
This is attributed to a limited supply of domestic products during the off-season, high demand, and frost, which complicates transportation.
Tetyana Popovych, the head of the marketing department at the "Shuvar" market, believes that the situation corresponds to seasonality and does not anticipate a critical increase in prices or a shortage in the future.
The increase in prices can be explained by several factors. Firstly, during the winter, most cucumbers are grown in greenhouses, which entails additional costs. Additionally, rising energy resource prices impact production costs, and imported cucumbers are subject to fluctuations in exchange rates and transportation costs. High demand and limited supply also contribute to the price hike. Despite this, supplies from Turkey remain stable, even amid border blockades.
Avoiding panic, the "Shuvar" market remains optimistic about the further development of the cucumber market situation.
Source: agrotimes.ua