There will be enough potatoes in Ukraine this year to meet all domestic demand
Ukraine is expecting a potato harvest of about 12.5 million metric tons in 2026. According to Minister of Agrarian Policy Taras Vysotsky, this volume is more than enough to meet the needs of the domestic market. At the same time, potato prices have been falling recently.
Ukraine is forecasting a potato harvest of about 12.5 million metric tons this year. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food stated that this volume will be sufficient to meet the country’s domestic needs. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, citing Minister Taras Vysotsky. According to him, Ukrainians consume significantly fewer potatoes each year than are expected to be harvested this year.
“Potato production this year is expected to total about 12.5 million metric tons. The available volume is more than enough for the domestic market. The population consumes a maximum of 2–2.5 million metric tons per year,” Vysotsky noted.
In other words, approximately 2–2.5 million metric tons of potatoes per year are needed directly for public consumption. The rest of the harvest is used for other purposes. Some of the potatoes are used as seed potatoes for the next season. Another portion is used as animal feed. Therefore, not the entire harvest ends up on store shelves or on Ukrainians’ tables.
Where Potatoes Are Grown
In Ukraine, potatoes are grown as a cash crop by about 400 specialized enterprises. The total area of their plantings is approximately 60,000 hectares. At the same time, a significant portion of potatoes is traditionally grown not by large agricultural companies, but by ordinary households. People plant them for their own needs and often store the harvest until the next season.
That is why potato production statistics cover not only large farms and enterprises; private households also make a significant contribution to the total harvest.
Potato Prices Are Falling
Potato prices are also changing in light of the expected harvest. According to the State Statistics Service, the average selling price is currently about 14 UAH per kilogram. Over the past week, potato prices have fallen by about 5%. Compared to a month ago, the price has already dropped by 15%. In some regions, the purchase price has dropped to 12 UAH per kilogram. The final retail price, however, may vary depending on the region, potato quality, and storage and logistics costs.
The price decline is occurring during the harvest season in Ukraine. An increased supply on the market may affect prices, but it is still too early to predict the final price for the entire season. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy emphasizes that the cited harvest figure is a forecast. Final potato production figures will be determined once the harvest is complete.
Thus, according to the current forecast, no potato shortage is expected for Ukraine’s domestic market in 2026. On the contrary, production is expected to significantly exceed the amount consumed by the population each year. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, citing Minister Taras Vysotsky.
