Main points
- Further increases in prices for dairy products and cereals, in particular buckwheat and millet, are expected in May.
- Prices for vegetables from the borscht set increased, while prices for meat fluctuated depending on the type.
What will the prices be in May / Photo Unsplash
In Ukraine, prices for a number of products are expected to continue to rise in May, despite weak purchasing power. Dairy products and cereals may see the biggest price increases.
How will food prices change in May?
Although a sharp devaluation of the hryvnia is not expected in May, prices for most goods will increase. Experts from the Institute of Agrarian Economics gave their forecasts of possible fluctuations in food prices in May in comments to Channel 24 .
Scientist Ivan Svinous notes that milk production in Ukraine is becoming more expensive due to the increase in feed costs due to rising fuel prices. The cost of logistics is also continuing to rise, which creates the prerequisites for a jump in retail prices for dairy products for consumers.
Ivan Svinous,
Doctor of Economics, Leading Researcher of the Department of Agrarian Market and International Integration of the Institute of Agrarian Economics
Despite the limited purchasing power of the population, an increase in prices for the main types of dairy products is forecasted in May 2026. The price of pasteurized milk with a fat content of 2.6% may reach 74.1 hryvnias per kilogram (+2.4%), sour cream with a fat content of 20% – 195.3 hryvnias per kilogram (+3.6%), and “Selyanske” butter with a fat content of 72.5% – 640.5 hryvnias per kilogram (+3.3%).
According to the expert, we can expect an increase in purchase prices for milk received for processing from agricultural enterprises by 2.8 – 3.6%, depending on the grade. However, it is not accompanied by an increase in the economic efficiency of production. The profitability of corporate sector farms is low – at the level of 2 – 3% , which does not even ensure the reproduction of the material and technical base and the number of cows.
Note! For households, prices for second-grade milk are expected to decrease by approximately 2% in May compared to April – to 9.61 hryvnia per kilogram . Among the reasons are lower product quality, significant logistics costs, and increased supply from private farms.
Ivan Svinous summarizes that the imbalance at the raw material level is transformed into a further increase in prices for consumers.
What will happen to the prices of the “borscht set” products?
Prices for vegetables from the borscht set increased as of the end of April, while salad vegetables became cheaper compared to March, says researcher Inna Salo. Their cost to consumers is influenced by the efficiency and volume of supply, electricity and fuel prices.
Since in Ukraine about 88% of vegetables (up to 7.5 million tons) and 80% of fruits (up to 1.5 million tons) are grown by households, the formation of supply and prices on the market will significantly depend on the following factors:
- supply volumes;
- storage conditions;
- logistics.
Inna Salo,
Doctor of Sciences, Chief Researcher of the Department of Agricultural Market and International Integration of the Institute of Agrarian Economics
In May, a seasonal increase in the price of vegetables for borscht is expected – up to 7%, and fruits – up to 10% compared to current prices. However, with the expansion of supply, prices for salad vegetables will likely decrease by 15-20% compared to current prices during the month.
In April, retail prices for meat in Ukraine increased, notes researcher Natalia Kopytets. For most types of meat in grocery supermarkets, the price increase is +0.4 – 9%.
The largest price increases per month as of the end of April were recorded for chicken, drumsticks and fillets – by 9 and 4.5%, respectively. Pork also rose in price: ribs and flank steak – by 4.3 and 2.3%. Retail prices for homemade and salted lard did not change.
However, pork brisket and shoulder became cheaper – by 4.7 and 8.3%, respectively. The price decline for chicken carcasses and thighs was less pronounced – about 1.5%.
Meat market fluctuates after Easter
According to Natalia Kopytets, after Easter, retail prices for the main types of meat fluctuate, as is usually the case: some become more expensive, others become cheaper. In particular, after the festive consumption of pork dishes, Ukrainians switch to lean chicken meat.
Retail prices for beef ribs and goulash increased by 2.4-2.7% in April, due to a significant reduction in the supply of this type of meat.
According to the expert's forecast, the price situation in May will be stable.
Natalia Kopytets,
Candidate of Economic Sciences, Leading Researcher of the Department of Agrarian Market and International Integration of the Institute of Agrarian Economics
In May 2026, retail prices for the main types of meat – beef, pork, chicken – will remain at the price level that prevailed at the end of April 2026.
The cereal market in Ukraine has seen price increases over the past two years, notes researcher Svitlana Cheremisina, so we can expect further fluctuations in the cost of most items.
The most noticeable increase in prices by the end of 2025 was for the following categories:
- buckwheat + 27.5% – up to 44.88 hryvnias per kilogram ;
- millet +32.1% – up to 33.57 hryvnias per kilogram ;
- barley groats +20% – up to 23.88 hryvnias per kilogram .
Wheat and semolina also increased in price – by 11.7 and 8.8%.
At the same time, rice prices fell by 7.6% in 2025 due to stable imports and sufficient supply.
Cereal prices will gradually increase
Expert Svitlana Cheremisina emphasizes that in 2026 the trend towards higher prices for cereals intensified. The price of buckwheat increased by almost half – to 65.1 hryvnia per kilogram. In the last month alone, its cost for consumers jumped by 20%.
Millet shows similar dynamics: since the beginning of the year, its price has increased to 51.9 hryvnia per kilogram, which is +54.6%. In April, the price increase is 8.9%.
According to the scientist, these changes indicate high market volatility and increased inflationary pressure. Such dynamics, taking into account cost factors in May 2026, give reason to expect further growth in prices for cereal products.
Svetlana Cheremisina,
Doctor of Economic Sciences, Chief Researcher of the Department of Agrarian Market and International Integration of the Institute of Agrarian Economics
The most noticeable price increase is likely to remain in the buckwheat segment, where the price may increase by another 5-10% and reach 68-70 hryvnias per kilogram. This is due to limited supply, high processing costs and stable consumer demand. Millet may add 5-7% and cost 53-55 hryvnias per kilogram due to the scarcity of raw materials and seasonal reduction in stocks.
Imported rice, under the influence of the exchange rate and logistics costs, may increase in price by 5-7% in May to 57-60 hryvnias per kilogram .
Semolina, barley, and wheat cereals will increase in price more moderately – by 3-5%.
Interesting! As the scientist concludes, the rise in the price of cereals is influenced by rising prices for electricity and processing, rising transportation costs, inflation, and seasonal reduction in stocks.
Cucumbers are rapidly falling in price for the third week in a row: what are the prices in supermarkets?
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Prices for greenhouse cucumbers in Ukraine are falling due to increasing supply and weak demand, and are offered for 40-70 hryvnias per kilogram.
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Warm weather accelerated the ripening of cucumbers, which further increased volumes on the market.
As a result, farmers are forced to lower prices to avoid hoarding. If demand does not increase, the trend towards lower prices may continue.