According to the analytical EastFruit, compared to the situation as of April 2024, potatoes in bulk are almost 40% more expensive. Among the European countries covered by this portal’s price monitoring, Moldova overtook Ukraine in the past month and topped the ranking of Eastern European countries with the most expensive potatoes.
The Association of Potato Growers of Moldova believes that the situation is explained by two main reasons. The first and main reason is the almost 100 percent dependence of local retailers on imported, mainly Belarusian, potatoes. The logistics of commodity flow from this source is constantly becoming more complicated and expensive.
The second reason is the very small supply and high prices for imported potatoes of the new harvest. As previously reported by Logos Press, the price of young potatoes is about 2-2.5 times higher than in April 2024. Prices range from 40 lei/kg (supermarkets) to 65 lei/kg (fruit and vegetable “neighborhood stores”). On the wholesale market of the country, young imported potatoes are offered not cheaper than 25-30 lei/kg.
