Ukraine sees foodstuff prices change in Aug

Prices of foodstuff in Ukraine changed in August 2020, in particular, prices of meat and sausages went up, while those of vegetables from Ukraine's so-called "borsch set" and certain cereals were down.

Read alsoUkraine's Statistics Service lists foodstuffs seeing biggest price hikes in 2020Onions in August fell in price by 15% year-over-year (y-o-y), and by 8% from July 2020, to UAH 7.50 (US$0.27) per kilogram, according to data from the Ukrainian Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Ministry.

Prices of cabbage dropped by 17% y-o-y, and by 13% from July, to UAH 5.42 (US$0.20) per kilogram, those of potatoes fell by 6% y-o-y (by 4% from July), to UAH 11 UAH (US$0.40) per kilogram, while prices of beets were down by 12% y-o-y, but rose by 8% against July, to UAH 6,43 (US$0.23) per kilogram.

With regard to cereals, prices of millet slumped the most y-o-y, namely by 21%, to UAH 12.77 (US$0.47) per kilogram, whereas those of maize and barley fell slightly, by 3% and 1%, respectively.

At the same time, prices of buckwheat skyrocketed by 2.4 in August 2020 y-o-y, to UAH 30 (US$1.09) per kilogram.

Price hikes for other foodstuff

In August, beef rose in price by 12%, to UAH 88.29 (US$3.22) per kilogram, pork by 3%, to UAH 81.65 (US$2.98) per kilogram, and premium sausage by 4%, to UAH 102.97 (US$3.75) per kilogram.

Dairy products also went up in price: butter and cottage cheese by 8%, sour cream by 9%, and milk by 5%.

Foodstuff prices: background

• The price of the borsch set, which includes onions, beets, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and potatoes, significantly dropped as of August 12, 2020.
• Ukraine has reduced exports of vegetables and fruit by 43% since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Ukrainian Horticultural Association.
• In early July 2020, experts said there might be no Belarusian vegetables on the Ukrainian market in 2020. Therefore, it will be impossible to bring down the price of potatoes. Belarusian garlic and onions will not be available on the Ukrainian market as well.
• On July 15, 2020, it became known that 60% of the new apple crop was lost due to the cold spring and prolonged rains. High prices of Ukrainian apples will rise even further by autumn, according to experts.
• On July 16, experts said there would be no cheap watermelons in 2020. The harvest this season will be lower than in previous years, due to the influence of weather factors and the economic situation caused by quarantine curbs. So, prices of watermelons in 2020 may grow by 20% y-o-y.
• Tomato prices in Ukraine doubled as of July 30, 2020, from those as of July 30, 2019.