How the War Affected Potato Production, Import, and Prices in Ukraine

The full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has significantly changed the situation in the domestic potato market. The area planted with this crop has decreased by 21%, but thanks to increased yields, the total production volume has only decreased by 11%. At the same time, consumer prices for potatoes have more than doubled: from ₴11.2 per kilogram in 2021 to ₴24 per kilogram in 2024.

This is reported by AgroReview

Dynamics of Consumer Prices and Reduction of the Cheap Potato Period

The period of low prices for potatoes, which previously lasted ten months, has now been reduced to two to four months per year. A significant blow to the market was the disappearance of early Ukrainian potatoes, which were previously grown mainly in the south of the country and supplied consumers during this period.

Changes in Imports and Supplier Geography

In 2024, the import of table potatoes accounted for only 2.3% of the total harvest, while in 2021 this figure reached 8.1%. Before the start of the full-scale war, potato imports were showing rapid growth, but by 2022, import volumes had decreased by 17 times. After that, imports began to recover, but the geography of the main suppliers changed.

“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 the Russian Federation. Last year, the main suppliers became Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, and Georgia.”

These changes have significantly affected the availability and pricing of this important product on the tables of Ukrainians, as well as the overall structure of the potato market.