In November 2019, potato imports to Ukraine again renewed another record. This time a new record was set for November potato imports
. In one month, 46 thousand tons of potatoes were imported into the country - even more than in September! And although compared with October, the volume of imports decreased by half, they exceeded the volume of imports in November 2018 by 15 thousand times!
“The situation remains deplorable while Ukrainian potatoes deteriorate in storage facilities and become cheaper, Russian potatoes are actively sold in supermarket chains, markets, bazaars and stalls. You cannot blame the importers for this - with more than a twofold difference in the price of products, it is a sin not to take advantage of the opportunity to earn money, ”says the head of the APK-Inform: Vegetables and Fruits project Alexander Khorev.
He also notes that the demand for products in the domestic market remains extremely low. This is also confirmed by the development director of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association Kateryna Zvereva. “Our potato growers complain that the demand for their products has fallen sharply, and prices have begun to decline. But the decline in prices does not lead to an intensification of consumer demand, because many consumers bought potatoes for future use back in September, when prices were a third more expensive than they are now, and they continue to consume these potatoes. For many consumers, especially in small towns and villages, these potatoes may be enough until spring. But consumers in large cities, most likely, will become more actively interested in buying potatoes in January-February, ”says Katerina Zvereva.
According to analysts Eastfruit, in October-November, up to half of all retail sales of potatoes accounted for imported products imported mainly from the Russian Federation. During the first half of the 2019/20 season (July-November 2019), potato imports to Ukraine have already reached 188,4 thousand tons, which is 700 times more than in the same period of the previous season!
“Ukrainian potato growers do not yet fully realize that they have only about four months left to sell the huge stocks of stored tubers. Considering the volume of imports, they have already presented at least two full months of sales by suppliers from Belarus and Russia, and at the highest price, and they themselves are now forced to "push" their potatoes cheaper, but they still practically do not sell, because importers can afford and further reduce prices. After all, now it is December, and imported potatoes continue to actively enter the market, ”says Andrei Yarmak, an economist at the Investment Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The largest importer of marketable potatoes in the world is Belgium. It imports annually more than 2 million tons of potatoes from neighboring countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom for further processing and export of value-added finished products. The Netherlands does the same, but they not only process potatoes, but also re-export it fresh.
The largest global importer of marketable potatoes outside the European Union is Russia, which imports more than half a million tons of tubers per year, mainly from Egypt, Azerbaijan and China. The most interesting thing is that Ukraine is now buying potatoes from the largest importer!
The world leaders in the export of fresh marketable potatoes are France and Germany, exporting 2.1 million tons and 1,8 million tons per year, respectively.