Onion prices in Ukraine may rise sharply due to a shortage

In the spring of 2027, Ukraine may face an onion shortage, which could lead to a significant rise in prices. This could be caused by a reduction in the area planted with onions, lower yields this season, and growing demand for Ukrainian vegetables abroad.

According to Pavel Bulgakov, compared to last year, Ukrainian farms have significantly reduced the acreage set aside for onion cultivation.

Some large producers, who stored up to 17,000 metric tons of onions last year, have completely stopped growing them this season. At the same time, few new producers have entered the market.

This situation may affect the volume of produce available for sale during the winter and spring.

Yields have also affected the situation. While last year’s onion harvest was a record, this season’s average yields have dropped by approximately 20–30 metric tons per hectare.

In various regions, the harvest was affected by unfavorable weather conditions. In the south, crops suffered from dust storms, while in the central and western regions, late frosts and prolonged rains negatively impacted yields.

In addition, Russian attacks on storage infrastructure are affecting the amount of produce that can be preserved until spring.

Changes in the market are also reflected in product prices. During last year’s harvest season, onions sold for approximately 2–2.5 UAH per kilogram.

This season, according to Pavlo Bulgakov, onions priced below 10 UAH/kg are practically nonexistent.

In the south, the price rose from 8 to 10–11 UAH per kilogram, and at certain times reached 14 UAH per kilogram. In the west, the average wholesale price was 18–20 UAH per kilogram.

At the same time, the expert considers the current price drop to be temporary. This is because producers are now actively selling onions directly from the field during the harvest.

An additional factor affecting the domestic market is the growth in exports of Ukrainian vegetables.

According to Bulgakov, Ukrainian onions, potatoes, and other vegetable products are already being actively supplied to Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria.

Once the harvest is complete and storage stocks gradually diminish, the supply of onions on the Ukrainian market could decrease significantly.

This, in turn, creates the risk of a product shortage and a new price increase in the spring of 2027.

In late September, however, onion prices in Ukraine fell by about 10%—to 12–18 UAH/kg. This was due to an increase in supply resulting from the harvest of late-season varieties.

At the same time, even after the price drop, onions remained, on average, 35% more expensive than a year earlier.

This is discussed in a column by Pavel Bulgakov, an international consultant on fruit and vegetable storage, for AgroTimes.

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