Egypt redirects early tubers to Europe: they pay more for them there
The fastest growing product in Russia today is potatoes. Yes, yes, the one that, in theory, should be the most accessible and cheap. But recent data from Rosstat dispassionately refute this logic. While prices for vegetables, in general, are falling slightly, prices for potatoes, on the contrary, have increased. Over the past week, tubers rose in price by 6.9%, in May — by 25.6%, and in total since the beginning of the year — by 49.7%.
Actually, even without statistical reporting, the dynamics of prices for “second bread” are clearly visible in stores and vegetable stands. After two years of stagnation in prices (a kilogram of economy class in both summer and winter cost 17-19 rubles!), the potatoes seemed to burst. Domestic and not the best quality tubers are already 30 rubles, and this is at a discount. And “white washed”, also at social prices, costs 40 rubles per kilogram.
It is understandable: May frosts, loss of the harvest… But what can we expect next?
The farmers reassure them that everything is going according to plan. As they say, “it’s even good that we’re still feeling bad.” After overproduction of “second bread” in previous years, this season Russians will reach the European level of potato consumption and even slightly exceed it. If in Europe there is an average of 50 kilograms per capita per year, then in Russia it will be 55-60 kilos.
Farmers claim that potato crops suffered the least — only early tubers in the south of Russia, which are planted in April. That's why they were hit by frost. But regular potatoes, which are stored for the winter, were not affected because they were planted in early May and successfully withstood the cold in the ground.
By the way, there are already early potatoes at stalls and supermarkets — from Egypt, for 70 rubles. But few people buy them. They do not look like the young and tender potatoes we are used to. Egyptian tubers are very large, as if not for boiling or frying, but for making chips. But sellers assure that these are real potatoes — early, just a variety. They advise buyers not to spare money and buy Egyptian: «Soon, deliveries from there will stop.»
The main supplier of early potatoes to Russia is Egypt. In previous years, on average, he supplied us with 300-500 thousand tons per year. According to some reports, he will not be able to supply such volumes this year: he has reduced the planting area for Russian imports due to sanctions problems with the transfer of payments for goods.
True, other sources state that the volumes that Egypt previously sent to Russia were redirected to Europe, where they buy it in bulk at a higher price, about 60 euro cents per kilogram. In general, there may not be any new potatoes on our shelves for some time.
Meanwhile, a farmer I know from Bryansk considers the bad weather in May his great luck. As they say, there would be no happiness, but misfortune helped. Last fall, he sold potatoes for 6 rubles per kilogram: consider it free and at a loss. Pure ruin… Therefore, I kept 1.5 thousand tons just in case of fire. What if tubers start to rise in price in the spring? And, as we see, they have risen in price!
“Now there are not enough potatoes, I sell old tubers to stores for 18 rubles,” he says. – Three times more expensive than in the fall. This is the real price. In retail it will not cost less than 30 rubles. And in general, potatoes will be expensive this year.
The Potato Union of Russia does not deny that today the demand for “second bread” exceeds supply, which is why prices are rising. However, consumers should not worry — there will be no shortages or interruptions.
“I would not advise our fellow citizens to plant potatoes on their plots,” says the head of the apparatus of this union, Tatyana Gubina. – It will be cheaper to buy in the store.
— I can’t say anything about prices and yields; potatoes haven’t even been planted everywhere in Russia yet. It is planted in the central regions, in the Urals, and in Siberia. The planting dates for this crop have been pushed back. You know, it’s too early to predict anything.
— Mass digging of tubers and deliveries will begin in mid-June — in 5-6 days. Prices have not yet been formed, we hope that our early potatoes will still be a little cheaper than Egyptian ones.
— Given this difficult year, this price can be considered good…
In general, farmers recommend that we not bother with planting potatoes in our gardens. And rely on social production. They say we can buy everything in the store. But they don’t hide the fact that this year is difficult and that demand exceeds supply. This means that there is no hope for a quick and sharp reduction in the price of potatoes on the shelves…