Favorable weather conditions across most of Ukraine continue to support active harvesting of watermelons, leading to a further increase in market supply, according to analysts at the EastFruit project.
At the same time, farmers note that the situation is being aggravated by the fact that a significant share of the supply consists of large-sized watermelons, for which demand remains weak. Wholesale companies and retail chains are reducing purchases of such produce to a minimum, citing very slow sales at the retail level.
At present, watermelon prices have already fallen to UAH 2-10/kg ($0.04-0.22/kg), which is on average 34% lower than at the end of the previous working week. Producers attribute the negative price trend to a sharp increase in the supply of watermelons on the market. Hot weather has significantly accelerated ripening rates in the fields. Meanwhile, drought conditions observed in the southern regions of the country are negatively affecting fruit quality, further intensifying the downward pressure on prices.
It should be noted that watermelon prices in Ukraine are currently, on average, 47% lower than during the same period last year. At the same time, industry experts do not expect a significant improvement in the market situation. According to them, only producers offering high-quality watermelons may be able to raise prices, while the supply of such produce remains rather limited. Prices for watermelons weighing more than 5 kg are likely to continue declining, as farmers seek to accelerate sales and clear existing stocks as quickly as possible.
More detailed information about developments in the melon and fresh produce market in Ukraine is available on the EastFruit website.
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