The full-scale war ongoing in Ukraine due to the Russian Federation has significantly impacted the domestic potato market, one of the key food products for Ukrainians. In recent years, farmers have been forced to reduce the area planted with potatoes by 21%. However, thanks to increased yields, production volumes have only decreased by 11%.
This is reported by Business • Media
Rising Consumer Prices and Shortening of the Season
The price of potatoes for consumers has nearly doubled over three years: while in 2021 the average price per kilogram was 11.2 hryvnias, by 2024 it had already reached 24 hryvnias. The period during which potatoes were available at low prices has shrunk from 10 months to two to four months a year. The disappearance of early Ukrainian potatoes, traditionally grown in the south of the country, has been particularly noticeable—this segment has almost completely vanished from the market.
Import Dynamics and Changes in Supply Geography
In 2024, imports of table potatoes accounted for only 2.3% of the total harvest, while in 2021 this figure was the highest in recent times at 8.1%. Before the full-scale invasion by Russia, there was a rapid increase in potato imports; however, in 2022, it decreased by 17 times. Currently, imports are gradually recovering, although their structure and geography have undergone significant changes.
“In the pre-war period, the main suppliers were EU countries (almost 70%). After the full-scale invasion, Ukraine stopped importing potatoes from Belarus and Russia. Last year, the main suppliers became Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, and Georgia.”
Thus, the war has affected both production volumes and pricing policies, as well as completely changed the logistics of potato supply to Ukraine.