Despite significant volumes of its own potato production, Ukraine is forced to import between 20,000 and 30,000 tons of French fries each year. The cost of purchasing this product abroad exceeds 1 billion hryvnias annually, resulting in substantial financial losses for the country. Experts cite the insufficient development of the domestic processing industry and a severe shortage of modern vegetable storage facilities as the main reasons for this situation, which has worsened in 2026 against the backdrop of power supply disruptions.
This is reported by Finway
“Ukraine practically has no domestic production of frozen French fries, which forces it to purchase between 20,000 and 30,000 tons of this product abroad each year at an average price of 50 UAH/kg. As a result, the amount of money leaving the country exceeds one billion hryvnias per year.”
Growing Demand for Semi-Finished Products and Market Changes
According to Mykola Furdyga, director of the Potato Institute of NAAS, changing consumer habits among Ukrainians have led to an increase in demand for semi-finished products. Modern consumers seek to save time on meal preparation, which is why farmers are redirecting their production strategies towards products with higher added value. In particular, large agricultural enterprises with land banks of over 100 hectares are already allocating about 80% of their area for growing special potato varieties intended for the production of chips and starch. Additionally, a modern deep processing plant specializing in snack production is currently under construction in the Cherkasy region.
Harvest Storage Challenges and Price Forecasts
One of the main problems in the industry remains the storage of the harvest. Experts emphasize that potatoes require a stable temperature regime of 5-6°C. In ordinary home conditions, the vegetable quickly loses up to 12% of its moisture, and starch converts to sugar, leading to sprouting and spoilage of the tubers. Therefore, the industry urgently needs professional warehouses for quality storage.
Despite logistical and energy difficulties, the forecast for the 2026 season remains stable: the potato harvest is expected to be sufficient to meet domestic needs, and prices are likely to remain at last year’s levels.