REUTERS
Bad weather conditions in the first half of June are said to be the cause behind price hikes.
Experts at Kyiv-based Pro-Consulting LLC say prices of tomatoes in Ukraine over the past 12 months soared by 2.3 times, up to UAH 33-UAH 35 (US$1.26-$1.34) per kilogram.
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"Tomatoes in local stores have significantly risen in price from the past year. Today, one can buy tomatoes at UAH 33-UAH 35 per kilogram, whereas last year their price was UAH 13-UAH 15 [$0.50-$0.57] per kilogram," the company's press service said on June 24.
According to experts, the cause behind this year's growth in prices was the bad weather conditions in the first half of June. Rains and hurricanes with hail destroyed a large number of greenhouses in Ukraine's Zakarpattia region. Another cause is a sharp rise in fuel prices.
"Spending on gas and electricity accounts for more than 50% of greenhouse crops costs. Such expenditures in greenhouses with modern equipment account for 20-30%," the press service said.
Experts say the price of tomatoes may decline in July, after the start of the new field tomato harvest campaign.
As UNIAN reported, wholesale buyers said in November 2018 there was a shortage of tomatoes on the Ukrainian market due to the termination of their sales by Ukrainian farms and insufficient supplies from Turkey.