Prices for Greenhouse Cucumbers in Ukraine Have Significantly Increased Due to Supply Shortages
This week, the Ukrainian market for greenhouse cucumbers is characterized by a substantial rise in prices for local products. Market operators explain this trend by several factors, the main ones being limited supply and increased demand.
This is reported by AgroReview
Main Reasons for Price Increases
According to industry analysts, the shortage of greenhouse cucumbers has arisen due to unstable and low harvest volumes at the farms. The primary reason for this is the cool and cloudy weather, which has negatively affected yields. Despite this, consumer demand for cucumbers has remained consistently high, further pushing prices upward.
As a result, representatives of greenhouse farms have been forced to revise their pricing policies. Currently, the main deals for the sale of local cucumbers are being made within the range of 50-75 UAH/kg ($1.21-$1.81 per kilogram), which is on average 17% higher than the prices recorded at the end of the previous working week.
Impact of Imports and Weather Conditions
Market participants emphasize that the increase in prices has also been facilitated by a reduction in cucumber imports, allowing local producers to raise their selling prices. Moreover, competition among Ukrainian producers is currently significantly weaker than in May of the previous year. This is explained by low and unstable harvest volumes due to a prolonged spring with cold weather.
“Prices for greenhouse cucumbers in Ukraine are currently on average 25% higher than during the same period last year. Regarding the further development of the situation in this segment, participants believe that everything will directly depend on weather conditions as the key factor influencing changes in the supply volumes of this product in the market.”
Thus, the future price dynamics for greenhouse cucumbers in Ukraine will remain dependent on weather conditions, which will determine producers’ capabilities to increase supply in the market.