Until mid-February, potato prices had dropped for the first time since October 2023, ranging from 16-22 UAH/kg (0.43-0.59 USD/kg), marking an 11% decrease from the previous week.
By early March, at the "Shuvar" wholesale market, potatoes are priced at 0.34-0.42 EUR/kg, representing a 30% decrease from February 2024 according to Tetyana Popovychhead of marketing at the wholesale agricultural produce market "Shuvar" in Lviv.
"This decline in prices was associated with an increase in supply in the market. Farmers, who held back sales hoping for higher prices, began to sell their stocks due to the rapid deterioration of potato quality in storage," explained Popovych.
Previously, in January, there was a significant price hike with potatoes reaching 18-25 UAH/kg (0.48-0.67 USD/kg). During that time, potato prices were on average four times higher than in the same period in 2023.
Key factors contributing to the price surge were limited local potato supply due to relatively low yields in many areas and issues with the quality of local potatoes. High prices stimulated imports, particularly from Poland.
Comparatively, potato prices today remain three times higher than the prices in 2023.
source: rbc.ua