Lower potato prices in Ukraine not enough to stop Russian imports

Despite the fact that potato prices are declining in Ukraine, their reduction so far has not been sufficient to stop the huge flow of Russian imports.

EastFruit analysts report that, over the past six weeks, wholesale potato prices in Ukraine have fallen by 27-30%, so now you can purchase them in bulk for even 7 UAH / kg (about 30 US cents per kg).

At the same time, potato growers in Russia and Belarus are still willingly selling their potatoes on average two to two and a half times cheaper than Ukrainian ones.

Alexander Khorev, head of APK-Inform: Vegetables and Fruits:
 

“With such a difference in price, traders will continue to import potatoes from Russia and Belarus, because it is profitable.”

The Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association (UPAA) has estimated the volume of potato imports in Ukraine since the beginning of the season at about 200 thousand tons.

Katerina Zvereva, Director for Development of the UPAA:
 

“We noticed a slowdown in imports in November due to a reduction in the profit margins and an excessive volume of low-quality imported potatoes, but the trade is still very active at the moment.”

Andrei Yarmak, economist at the Investment Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO):
 

“I estimated the share of imported potatoes in the retail trade in October-November to have reached almost 50%, and most of our potato growers have only about 4 months left to sell their stocks.”

“Therefore, I would not rule out the possibility of a further decline in the wholesale price of potatoes in December, and if this does not happen, prices may then collapse in March-April.”