Some vegetables in Ukraine are becoming more expensive amid reduced supply

On the Ukrainian fruit and vegetable market, the relationship between demand, supply, and prices changed noticeably over the week. Onions turned from declining to rising, tomatoes and cucumbers continued to rise in price, and the reduction in supply pushed up prices for table beets. At the same time, apples and pears are becoming cheaper, and among berries the cost of blueberries and garden strawberries rose sharply.

Such trends were recorded by EastFruit based on the analysis of trading platforms for the 37th week of 2026.

The main commodity in terms of the number of listings for the week was tomatoes. Their sales continue to grow. Market participants also more often offered white cabbage and onions.

At the same time, the supply of several traditional vegetables decreased. Potatoes, carrots, and table beets were sold less frequently. As a result, beets even dropped out of the list of the most actively sold goods of the week.

Against this background, eggplants and pumpkin returned to the top sales. Their sales were noticeably increased by Ukrainian participants on the trading platform.

Onions turned to growth after a previous decline

One of the most notable changes of the week was the rise in price of onions. A week earlier, EastFruit had recorded a decline in its cost, but then the market turned around.

According to a separate EastFruit monitoring as of September 10, most Ukrainian farmers were already offering onions at 13-20 UAH/kg. This is on average 21% more expensive than at the end of the previous working week.

Market participants attributed the price increase to high demand from wholesale companies and retail chains. Some buyers are purchasing products not only for current sale, but also for subsequent storage.

At the same time, the supply of quality onions remains limited: producers themselves are trying to send the maximum possible volumes of suitable products to storage facilities.

By early September, onions in Ukraine were already about 32% more expensive than a year earlier. However, market participants do not yet consider the current increase sustainable over a long period. The harvest continues, so supply should remain fairly high until mid-October.

Cucumbers and tomatoes continue to rise in price

Positive price dynamics also persist in the tomato and cucumber segment. Tomatoes not only topped the rating of listings on the trading platform but also continued to rise in price.

This is already the second week of increased activity by tomato sellers: in the previous review, EastFruit also noted an increase in their sales and prices.

Cucumbers are rising in price against the backdrop of a seasonal reduction in supply. As recently as September 6, Ukrainian greenhouse farms were offering them at 30-55 UAH/kg, which was on average 20% more expensive than a week earlier.

Producers then explained the increase by the fact that open-field supplies are declining, and not all greenhouse enterprises have yet started harvesting the second cycle. Demand, however, remained high. The new weekly review shows that the upward trend persists.

Prices for other vegetables changed in different directions. Table beets, whose supply on the trading platform decreased, rose in price. Broccoli was sold at higher prices.

Chinese cabbage and cauliflower, on the contrary, became cheaper. Prices for zucchini and eggplants also decreased. In the greens segment, sellers raised prices for dill and parsley, while green onions became cheaper.

Apples and pears are getting cheaper, berries rose sharply

In the fruit segment, apples remain the sales leader. However, the number of sellers of this product decreased over the week, and prices in Ukraine went down.

The decline in apple prices is already observed against the backdrop of the new crop entering the market. At the end of August, EastFruit reported that quality apples of autumn varieties were sold at 15-25 UAH/kg – on average 20% cheaper than a week earlier.

At that time, supply was growing, and demand remained relatively restrained. In addition, a significant part of the market consisted of autumn varieties that are poorly suited for long-term storage, so producers sought to sell them faster.

At the end of August, apples of the new harvest cost on average 44% less than in the same period of 2025. Fresh weekly monitoring shows that the downward movement in this segment has continued.

At the same time, pears began to become cheaper in Ukraine, although the number of offers for them increased. The opposite situation emerged with a number of berries: EastFruit records a sharp rise in the cost of blueberries and garden strawberries. Raspberries were also sold more expensively than a week earlier.

Plums fell in price, while peaches and nectarines, on the contrary, began to become more expensive. The rise in watermelon prices continued despite a decrease in the number of sellers of this product.

The supply of melons increased over the week, while the price range for melons and grapes widened. In the segment of imported fruits, lemons began to be offered more cheaply.

Potatoes became the most demanded product among buyers

The number of listings not only for sale but also for purchase of fruit and vegetable products continues to increase. Potatoes became the most sought-after product among buyers last week.

High purchasing activity was also observed for other traditional vegetables of the so-called borscht set. At the same time, the direct supply of potatoes, carrots, and beets on the platform decreased.

This creates a mixed picture: for some items, seasonal harvests continue to enter the market, but the number of batches available for trade is already decreasing, while buyer demand remains active.

Ukraine remains the main seller on the platform

In total, during the week, vegetables and fruits were offered through EastFruit Trade Platform by participants from eight countries. The total number of listings remained practically unchanged compared to the previous week.

At the same time, the supply of products from Ukraine and Azerbaijan decreased. Sellers from Uzbekistan, Turkey, and China were more active in listing goods.

Despite the reduction in the number of Ukrainian listings, Ukraine retained the first place in activity on the platform. Next came Uzbekistan, Turkey, China, and Iran.

In the fruit segment, the seasonal shift in the assortment is also becoming more noticeable. Uzbekistan is increasing sales of persimmons, Ukraine – pears. In Turkey, the season of Mayer lemons has begun, and their first offers have already appeared on the trading platform.

Thus, in mid-September, the Ukrainian market is entering a period of more mixed price movements: some vegetables are becoming more expensive due to reduced quality supply and active demand, while for apples, pears, and some seasonal vegetables, sellers are forced to lower prices.

Based on materials from: EastFruit, EastFruit – onion market, EastFruit – cucumber market