The borscht index in Ukraine grew by 19% in a month

The borscht index in Ukraine grew by 52% over the year, in particular by 19% over the last month, reaching UAH 222 against the backdrop of a sharp increase in vegetable prices caused by adverse weather.

 

According to the updated product monitoring of the Ukrainian Agricultural and Food Agency, in May 2025, prices for pork, onions, cabbage, carrots, and beets in Ukraine increased significantly, while prices for eggs and some greenhouse vegetables (tomatoes and cucumbers), on the contrary, decreased.

 

The most expensive vegetables in May were those that increased in price compared to April:

• for onions – by 82% (+91% per year) to 29.9 UAH/kg,
• for beets – by 60% (+121% per year) to 46.9 UAH/kg,
• for cabbage – by 42% (record +437% per year) to 72.5 UAH/kg,
• for carrots – by 14% (+342% per year) to 49.9 UAH/kg.

 

At the same time, prices for old potatoes decreased by 2% to 34.4 UAH/kg against the backdrop of the appearance of new crop potatoes on the market at a price of 80-130 UAH/kg, prices for which will begin to gradually decrease from mid-June as the local harvest is harvested.

 

The reason for the increase in the price of beets, cabbage, and carrots is a significant reduction in supply amid a seasonal decrease in stocks, with onion prices set to rise at least until July, while the market will depend on the volume of imported supplies.

 

Meat prices also increased in May:

• for collar – by 20% to 330 UAH/kg,
• for beef – by 6% to 317 UAH/kg,
• for chicken fillet – by 5% (+29% per year) to 200 UAH/kg.

At the same time, prices for chicken thighs decreased by 4% to 120 UAH/kg (+8% per year).

 

Beef prices are rising amid a decline in cattle herds and supported by pork prices, which will remain quite high in the near future due to an 11% year-on-year decline in pig numbers and a 9% decrease in slaughter weight in the first quarter of 2025.

 

The dairy market remained fairly stable in May, with prices changing by 1-6% compared to April, although most products have increased significantly in price compared to last year.

 

Grocery prices were also stable. The cost of 850 ml of sunflower oil increased by 2% to UAH 76.7 per month (+30% year-on-year), while the price of rice remained at UAH 50.1/kg (-13% year-on-year) due to falling world prices.

 

A dozen chicken eggs of category C1 fell in price by 5% to UAH 72.3 per month (+50% per year), and with the onset of heat, egg prices will continue to fall. Cucumber prices fell by 31% to UAH 53.5/kg (-14% per year), and tomatoes fell by 21% to UAH 99.5/kg (-7% per year) against the backdrop of an increase in domestic supply of greenhouse products and a stable level of imports. It is expected that cucumber prices may decrease by another 5–10% in the coming weeks.