Main points
- In April, prices for vegetables in Ukraine will increase by up to 5%, for fruits by up to 7%, and for meat (beef, pork, and chicken) by up to 9%.
- Dairy products will also increase in price by approximately 5-6% before Easter, but may become cheaper again after the holiday.
Price hikes in April 2026 / Channel 24 collage
Due to seasonal factors and the approaching Easter, food prices for Ukrainians will increase. In addition, the fuel crisis is pressing.
How will food prices increase in April?
Exclusively for Channel 24, experts from the Institute of Agrarian Economics predicted how prices could change in April. They talked about fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy products, and cereals.
- What will the prices of fruits and vegetables be?
Several factors will influence the prices of fruits and vegetables, explains scientist Inna Salo. These include supply volumes, storage and transportation costs, as well as rising fuel and electricity prices for industrial producers.
In April, according to forecasts, fruit and vegetable products will seasonally increase in price: vegetables – up to 5% , and fruits – up to 7% compared to the current level.
However, it is worth noting that the day before, prices fell somewhat during March. For example, carrots by 11.3%, onions by 11.2%, domestic apples by 6.3%, and even oranges and bananas by 2.4% and 1.5%, respectively.
- How much will the meat cost?
Scientist Nataliya Kopytets predicts that in April, the prices of meat that Ukrainians traditionally buy for Easter will rise first. Prices are expected to rise on the eve of the holiday on April 12.
In April 2026, retail prices for the main types of meat – beef, pork and chicken – are expected to increase by up to 9%.
– the expert explained.
She also added that the shelling of critical infrastructure in January-February and the energy crisis they caused had an impact on the meat market: demand in supermarkets decreased, as did prices.
For businesses, storing products has become more expensive due to the use of generators, and for many consumers it has become problematic due to prolonged power outages at home.
True, even at the end of March, retail prices for meat remained lower compared to the beginning of the year. However, there are exceptions, such as pork ribs (up 1.8%) and neck (up 2.3%), chicken fillet (up 8.6%) and drumsticks (up 3.9%), etc.
- Will the price of dairy products increase?
In the pre-Easter period, milk and dairy products in Ukraine will become more expensive, although prices may decrease slightly after the holiday.
Scientist Ivan Svinous explains that even in April, when milk yields are traditionally highest, the industry faces a number of problems – primarily a reduction in the number of cows and the rise in the cost of resources for production, processing, and sale. All of this puts pressure on prices for the end consumer.
| How will prices increase by Easter? | How much will it increase in price compared to March? | How can prices get cheaper after the holidays (third decade of April) | |
| Milk 2.6% fat | 71 hryvnia per liter | + 5.3% | up to 69 hryvnias per liter |
| Cream 10% fat | 207 hryvnias per liter | + 6.2% | up to 195 hryvnias per liter |
| Sour cream 20% fat | 185 hryvnias per kilogram | +5.6% | up to 170 hryvnias per liter |
| Butter 72.5% fat | 620 hryvnias per kilogram | +6.1% | up to 600 hryvnias per kilogram |
Interestingly, the decline in prices at the end of the month will primarily result in a decrease in the purchasing power of the population.
- What will happen to cereal prices?
Scientist Svitlana Cheremisina notes that by the end of 2025, cereals had risen significantly in price, increasing in price by an average of 1-2% per month. This year, in April, the trend will continue: the market will continue to be pressured by higher production costs, energy risks, rising fuel prices, and active demand.
The most significant price increase is predicted in the buckwheat and millet segment, while other types of cereals will demonstrate more moderate dynamics,
– the expert emphasized.
According to her forecast, buckwheat will increase in price to at least 60-65 hryvnias per kilogram (by 10-15% at least), while rice will increase to 55 hryvnias per kilogram, semolina to 33 hryvnias per kilogram, and wheat to 25 hryvnias per kilogram (by 3-5%).
Please note that the situation with cereal prices in Ukraine will remain unstable in the coming months.
Are vegetable prices also rising in the EU?
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By the way, in early April, the key issue for the European fruit and vegetable sector was once again cost. The simultaneous increase in the cost of energy, fuel, transportation and packaging is putting serious pressure on the fresh produce market.
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According to estimates by industry organizations, food inflation could increase significantly by the end of the year – up to almost 10%.