January 18 2007, 15:10

Russia: potato prices started to grow

According to information provided by the experts of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" weekly journal, the prices for potato have started recently to grow in the Russian Federation. The specialists pointed out that the prices predominantly grew in the high-quality produce segment. Exactly this type of the produce enjoys the highest demand among the wholesale companies.

Simultaneously, the market players recorded a supply decrease for less quality potato. In its turn, this fact sustained the prices in the lower and upper price segments. One more factor initiated the positive dynamics of Russian potato market: it was a restrained sales policy which the companies with potato stocks adhered to.

So, this week the decrease of potato supply let the vendors increase the prices for the quality product up to $0.3-0.37/kg; the price for the medium-quality product grew up to $0.24-0.26/kg. The specialists of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal point out that the most shipments of potato were sold for $ 0.16-0.22/kg one week ago. The quality of the produce was estimated as medium.

According to the specialists' forecasts, the initiated this week trend of the potato price increase will be preserved in the nearest future. If the frosts come, the rates of the potato price growth are likely to speed up.