Potato prices in Ukraine have started rising again after a long pause

Prices for potatoes on Ukraine’s wholesale market have started rising after several months of stability. The increase is being attributed to reduced supply and a shortage of high-quality potatoes among farms.

Wholesale potato prices in Ukraine began climbing at the start of last week, according to EastFruit analysts.

Prior to that, prices in the segment had remained stable since mid-December, and at the end of 2025 sellers even had to lower prices for some lots—especially potatoes not suitable for long-term storage.

The market began to shift in the middle of this month. With demand holding steady and supply shrinking noticeably, sellers raised prices to 7–13 hryvnias ($0.14–$0.25) per kilogram—about 16% higher on average than at the end of the first ten days of January. At the same time, wholesale companies are increasingly reporting a lack of quality potatoes from local producers.

Experts say the main driver of the current rise is an overall decline in supply on the domestic market. Farmers without proper storage facilities sold off their potatoes before the onset of frosts, while those with better-quality stock are holding back sales in expectation of higher prices in the coming months.

Some producers also link quality issues and unstable supply to unfavorable weather during the 2025 harvest. Prolonged rains in certain regions worsened the potatoes’ appearance and storability, and the use of locally produced seed potatoes did not deliver the expected results.