The shortage of horseradish in Ukraine: why the raw material for sauces has disappeared
Ukraine is experiencing a critical shortage of horseradish, necessary for the production of popular sauces. Collectors report a decrease in harvest from 1000 tons a few years ago to less than 600 tons today. This situation is caused by several factors that have significantly affected the production and supply of raw materials.
Main factors of the shortage
One of the main factors complicating the harvesting of horseradish was the summer drought of 2025. The conditions that have developed in nature have significantly deteriorated the possibilities for harvest collection. In addition, the shortage is influenced by resellers who actively export horseradish to Poland and Germany, further complicating the situation in the domestic market.
It should also be noted that horseradish is sensitive to herbicides used during soybean cultivation. This negatively affects the yields, as agro-companies face difficulties when growing these crops simultaneously. Processors attempted to involve their own plots for sowing; however, most of the harvest turned out to be unsuccessful, which only exacerbated the problem.
As a result, Ukrainian enterprises are forced to import raw materials from Europe to ensure the production of sauces. The main factors of the horseradish shortage include:
- the extinction of villages and demographic changes;
- drought;
- export;
- herbicides;
- the failure of industrial cultivation;
- import.
This situation raises concerns among producers who rely on this raw material and threatens their activities.
This shortage could have serious consequences for the Ukrainian food market, as sauces containing horseradish are popular among consumers. A decrease in production volumes could lead to an increase in prices for finished products, which in turn will affect the purchasing power of the population. Producers may be forced to seek alternative sources of raw materials or change recipes, which could alter the traditional taste of Ukrainian dishes.