Main points
- Prices for greenhouse cucumbers and tomatoes in Ukraine have reached record levels due to reduced imports from Turkey and the impact of the exchange rate.
- Experts predict that high prices may persist for several more weeks or a month until larger batches of Ukrainian vegetables arrive from March.
Cucumbers and tomatoes have become more expensive / Photo Freepik
The cost of greenhouse vegetables in Ukraine has reached its highest level in at least the past five seasons. Experts attribute this to a reduction in imports from Turkey, seasonality, and the impact of the exchange rate.
The price of tomatoes and cucumbers has soared to a record high
Prices for greenhouse vegetables in Ukraine currently remain at record highs for at least the last five seasons, EastFruit reports. According to Oleksandr Khorev, an agricultural market expert and coordinator of the EastFruit Weekly Ukraine project, wholesale prices for cucumbers are 135-165 hryvnias per kilogram, depending on the variety, quality, and batch size.
Tomatoes cost 120-140 hryvnia per kilogram. For comparison, last year during this period the average price for tomatoes was slightly below 100 hryvnia per kilogram, and cucumbers were sold for about 110 hryvnia per kilogram. Thus, the growth for the year was about 25-30%.
The expert notes that the key factor in the price increase is the situation in the producing country. In winter, the main volumes of greenhouse vegetables come to Ukraine from Turkey. Currently, there is a seasonal decrease in the harvest there, which has led to a reduction in supplies and an increase in prices not only for Ukraine, but also for other European markets.
What will happen next with the prices of tomatoes and cucumbers?
Demand for greenhouse vegetables remains stable throughout the winter, so prices naturally increase as supply decreases. An additional factor is the devaluation of the hryvnia – the national currency is now weaker compared to last year against the US dollar and the euro, which affects the final cost of imported products.
According to the expert's forecasts, high prices may persist for several more weeks or even a month . Ukrainian cucumbers will be the first to enter the market en masse, followed by tomatoes.
Ukraine also operates greenhouse plants with year-round production, but due to high energy prices, their products remain expensive and volumes are limited. Larger batches of Ukrainian vegetables are expected from March, and deliveries will increase in April. Traditionally, this contributes to a decrease in market prices in mid-spring.
Vegetable prices are mostly rising: what rose the most last week?
-
On the Ukrainian market, prices for vegetables increased last week, including beets, cucumbers, sweet and bitter peppers, and Beijing cabbage.
-
In the fruit segment, the prices of apples, tangerines, persimmons, pomegranates, and kiwis increased, while the prices of oranges decreased.