Watermelon prices from Ukrainian producers have increased by an average of 20 percent over the past week, according to market analysts at EastFruit. A kilogram of the fruit currently sells for between 5 and 12 hryvnias, depending on product quality and the production region.
Farmers attribute the price surge to an imbalance between supply and demand across the domestic market. The available supply of watermelons dropped sharply following the conclusion of the sales season for mid-season crop varieties.
At the same time, many Ukrainian melon growers experienced yield problems with late-season varieties this year, restricting market availability. Meanwhile, consumer demand for the fruit has continued to grow rapidly over the past two weeks.
EastFruit is an agricultural market research platform that tracks produce prices and industry trends across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Commercial watermelon production in Ukraine is traditionally concentrated in southern agricultural regions, where weather conditions and harvest timing determine market supply.
Despite the significant weekly price increase, watermelons in Ukraine currently cost an average of 27 percent less than during the same period last year.
Supermarket retail prices in Ukraine
Retail prices in major Ukrainian supermarket chains reflect higher costs for consumers than wholesale farmgate rates. At Silpo, one of the country's largest supermarket chains, watermelon is sold for 20 hryvnias per kilogram.
At Varus supermarkets, watermelon is sold with a 27 percent discount, priced at 10.9 hryvnias per kilogram instead of 14.9 hryvnias.
At ATB Market, another leading national retail chain in Ukraine, the cost of a kilogram of watermelon is 14.9 hryvnias.
Broader food market inflation trends
The rise in watermelon prices comes alongside broader price increases across the Ukrainian food sector. Food prices in Ukraine will rise starting in September due to strikes by Russian forces on retail network warehouses.
Experts noted that dairy products and frozen foods will be the first items to rise in price. Meat products will become more expensive by up to 10 percent during autumn, while grain prices will rise by up to 15 percent.
At open-air food fairs in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, grape and plum stalls are currently the most widespread. A kilogram of plums costs between 20 and 40 hryvnias at the market displays.
Grape prices at the Kyiv food fairs range from 80 to 180 hryvnias per kilogram, although some sellers offer the fruit for as low as 50 hryvnias per kilogram.
