In the 2024/25 season, apple crop in Ukraine, Poland and Moldova suffered significant frost-related losses, sharply curbing export availability, which led to a third consecutive year of price increases, EastFruit reports. According to FAO Economist Andriy Yarmak’s presentation at Prognosfruit 2025, domestic apple prices in Ukraine were high enough to discourage most growers and traders from exporting apples. Moreover, Ukraine imported apples from Poland in April – June 2025 as most growers were trying to sell fast due to continued attacks of Russian on civil infrastructure, including electricity supplies.
Both Moldova and Poland also reduced exports due to lower availability of apples. Prices grew, supported by the reduced yields and high prices of apple juice concentrate (AJC). High global demand for AJC resulted in reduced availability of cheap apples at the fresh market, supporting average price obtained by farmers.
In the spring of 2025 another wave of frosts damaged apple crops in Ukraine, Poland and Moldova but the damage was less significant than in the spring of 2024 in Ukraine, while growers in Poland and Moldova expect another decline in apple production.
Read also: New Season Apples in Ukraine Are Nearly Three Times More Expensive Than Last Year
Despite lower production in Moldova and Poland, farmers and traders remain cautiously optimistic as they expect the prices to stay high. Since the supply remains tight across Eastern Europe, it will also support prices in the whole EU – its main export market.
WAPA’s recent Prognosfruit 2025 report reinforces apple market’s fragility: EU-wide apple production is expected to hold steady at around 10.5 million tonnes, 0.1% lower than last year and still approximately 7.5% below the 3-5 year average. This constrained supply context, combined with East Europe’s lingering vulnerabilities, is likely to underpin continued price resilience.
If prices climb up again in Eastern Europe, it would be a completely unprecedented event, which has not ever happened before. Moreover, historical price records may be achieved, disappointing consumers. Ukraine may end up exporting more apples, attracted by higher prices but domestic price levels are expected to remain very high as well.
The use of the site materials is free if there is a direct and open for search engines hyperlink to a specific publication of the East-Fruit.com website.