Ukrainian potatoes can be exported to EU countries if the high-quality product is grown sustainably, washed, packaged, and marketed.

“In my opinion, for sustainable export to the EU countries, a pool of Ukrainian potato producers should be formed, who will have the will to grow high-quality potatoes and finish them accordingly (washing, packing, etc.). These should be manufacturers who have the necessary certificates, in particular, the same Global GAP,” Ihor Chechitko, director of HZPC Ukraine, said for Agro Times.

According to the expert, Ukrainian potatoes require specific marketing assistance in EU countries, given the fact that this is a product that most local shoppers are unfamiliar with.

Ukraine exported USD1.14m worth of fresh or chilled potatoes in January 2022, but it almost did not sell this product overseas during the same period last year. According to agronews.ua, this was reported by UNN (Українські Національні Новини).

Ukraine sold most of its potatoes this year to Belarus (USD526,180), Azerbaijan (USD525,690), and Moldova (USD86,440).

Ukraine’s import of potatoes in January 2022 amounted to USD100,000, which in monetary terms is almost 45 times less than in the same month of 2021. In the same period of 2021, the import of potatoes amounted to USD4.49m.

In January, potatoes were brought to Ukraine from Germany (USD55,440), Belgium (USD14,870), and Egypt (USD13,610).