Buckwheat Shortage Looms in Ukraine, Driving Prices Higher Before Next Harvest

Ukraine Faces a Buckwheat Shortage

According to Главком: A shortage of buckwheat is developing in Ukraine, driven by a sharp reduction in planted areas and a drop in production volumes. This is causing prices for this popular grain to rise. According to Svitlana Cheremisina, a scientist at the Institute of Agrarian Economics, prices could increase significantly by 2026. Buckwheat is a staple food in Ukraine and across Eastern Europe, making its availability and price a key concern for households.

In the first years of the full-scale war, the buckwheat market showed growth. In 2022, Ukraine's production exceeded domestic consumption by 1.5 times. This allowed for the formation of domestic reserves, prevented a shortage, and stabilized price trends, Cheremisina noted. However, the situation began to change in 2024 when the area sown with buckwheat started to shrink.

Production and Consumption Trends

In 2023, buckwheat was planted on nearly 147.9 thousand hectares, but by 2025 this had fallen to just 58.5 thousand hectares. Consequently, the harvest in 2023 was 210.7 thousand tons, while in 2025 production decreased to 70.8 thousand tons. Ukraine's annual consumption of buckwheat is approximately 100-110 thousand tons, indicating a deficit of 30-35 thousand tons based on the 2025 harvest data.

Buckwheat prices are also demonstrating a clear upward trend:

• At the end of 2025, it cost 44.88 UAH per kg;
• In January 2026, the price was 47.45 UAH per kg;
• By February 2026, it had reached 50.82 UAH per kg.

"Until the new harvest begins to arrive, the consumer price for buckwheat groats could reach approximately 55-60 UAH, provided current market trends persist and there is no sharp increase in supply." - Svitlana Cheremisina

Thus, existing transitional stocks of the grain will only partially offset the deficit. Economists forecast a further increase in the cost of buckwheat, which could significantly impact consumers.

The situation on Ukraine's buckwheat market points to serious challenges for the agricultural sector, which could have far-reaching consequences for the country's food security. The reduction in sown areas and production volumes may lead to higher prices not only for buckwheat itself but also for other products that use it as a raw ingredient. Given the growing shortage, it is crucial to consider measures to support production and incentivize farmers to return to cultivating this crop.