The Ukrainian apple market has moved into a deep imbalance: despite significant stocks in storage, the country is simultaneously increasing imports. Producer prices are holding at about 20–30 UAH/kg, while imported apples on retail shelves reach 80–100 UAH/kg. Some farms cannot sell even at minimum prices.
Last year the trade balance turned negative for the first time in a long period: imports exceeded exports both in physical volume and in currency revenues. Analysts link the situation not only to a weak harvest, but also to structural problems in the sector, including scale and technology gaps.
Quality issues add pressure. Part of the crop was harvested under difficult weather conditions, which reduced storability and made sales harder. As a result, the market is increasingly segmented: premium-quality apples find buyers, while mid-grade volumes accumulate in storage.
The situation signals a need to align storage, quality and marketing capabilities with market realities, otherwise the price gap between domestic and imported apples will persist.
