September 13 2006, 13:15

Wholesale prices for potato in the southern oblasts of Ukraine exceed past year prices twofold

According to data of wholesale price monitoring on KOPANI market, the present potato prices ($0.35-0.39/kg) are twice as high the prices observed at the same period of time past year. Retail prices significantly exceed the past year level too. The past year maximal retail price was $0.39/kg on PRIVOZ market in Odesa; this year the same price is considered to be minimal. Market players explain this situation by reduced supplies of local potato to market comparing to the previous year. The Agricultural Marketing Project conducted a survey in the beginning of this season; according to its results, many producers on the South of Ukraine did not succeed to buy planting materials for the affordable price. Such producers either reduced potato cultivation areas or gave up potato production at all this year.

Market players think that the further dynamics of price situation will depend on potato production recorded in the main production regions, such as Lviv, Vinnitsa, Volyn, Chernygiv, and Kharkiv oblasts.

At the present moment the AMP analysts are preparing the updated forecast of vegetable production and prices in 2006 in Ukraine. This information will be published in the next issues of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal.