Retail potatoes, according to Rosstat, rose in March by 1,5 percent. The same situation was observed in February. However, there are no reasons for the rise in retail prices, since wholesale prices for potatoes are falling, said the executive director of the Potato Union Alexei Krasilnikov to RG.
“Last year, at the beginning of February, the wholesale price for potatoes increased by one ruble to 17 rubles per kilogram and remained in this range until May. This year, on the contrary, the price has decreased from 13 rubles per kilogram in early February to 10 rubles at the end of March, ”the expert says.
Wholesale prices now generally range from 9 to 12 rubles per kilogram. In some regions of the country - in the Urals, in Siberia, the cost of potatoes dropped even to 4-5 rubles per kilogram.
Of course, there are regions where prices are rising, for example, in the Vladimir, Kurgan regions, Krasnodar Territory, he adds. But in general, compared to last year, potatoes fell by 25 to 40 percent. So that is not the reason for the rise in retail prices. Usually, in winter and spring, the increase in store prices is also facilitated by an increase in imports, which are more expensive than domestic products. However, this year imports, on the contrary, are falling. If in March last year, 80 thousand tons of tubers were imported from Egypt to Russia, then this is only 15 thousand tons.
“The volume of imports from Egypt has decreased almost tenfold. Most likely, this is due to the fact that Europe is experiencing a shortage of potatoes due to the drought, and the Egyptian goods went there, "Krasilnikov notes. It turns out that retail is pursuing its own pricing policy.
“Perhaps, in retail, there are speculative tendencies associated with the continuing Lent,” the expert noted.
In May, the first deliveries of Russian potatoes of fresh harvest from the southern regions are expected, he added. Domestic goods will even more squeeze imports.
Source: https://rg.ru