Ukraine adjusts vegetable import strategy amid harvest challenges

Ukraine has revised its vegetable import strategy in response to this year’s harvest challenges. Bogdan Dukhnitsky, a senior researcher at the Department of Agricultural Production Economics and International Integration of the National Research Center Institute of Agrarian Economics, noted that vegetable imports declined in volume during the first 10 months of 2024, while fruit and berry imports maintained a stable value compared to 2023.

Potato imports surged by 90% due to crop shortages, while imports of onions, garlic, carrots, cabbage, and cucumbers decreased as local producers adapted to earlier disruptions. Key suppliers of imported vegetables include Turkey, Poland, and the Netherlands.

Ukraine typically produces 10 million tons of vegetables annually, but output fell to 7.5 million tons in 2022, recovering slightly to over 8 million tons in 2023. Vegetable prices spiked by 68% in 2022, with fruits remaining costly in 2023. Looking ahead to 2025, Dukhnitsky predicts continued market uncertainty, driven by reduced crop quality and quantity. Despite the need for imports, Ukraine’s domestic market will largely rely on its own production, supported by favorable natural conditions.

source: open4business.com.ua

photo: 112.ua