Potato Imports to Ukraine Doubled in 2025, with Poland Leading as Top Supplier

Ukraine's Potato Imports Surge in 2025

According to Главком: Ukraine's potato imports more than doubled in 2025, reaching 123.6 thousand tons, a direct consequence of the poor domestic harvest the previous year. In monetary terms, these imports were valued at $66.3 million, a 2.5-fold increase from 2024. The primary sources for these imports were Poland, Egypt, and the Netherlands. This reliance on foreign potatoes highlights the ongoing pressures on Ukraine's agricultural sector, which has been significantly disrupted by the war.

Reasons Behind the Import Increase

The surge in imports was primarily driven by a failed 2024 harvest, caused by drought, extreme heat, and a shortage of seed material. These adverse weather conditions forced the country to turn to international markets to meet its food needs. Expert Mykola Furdyha noted that European suppliers were actively engaging with Ukraine due to attractive prices.

Poland, Egypt, and the Netherlands emerged as Ukraine's key potato suppliers. The breakdown of imports by country was:

• Poland (37.1%)
• Egypt (13.6%)
• Netherlands (11.6%)

Poland set a record for potato exports in 2025, shipping over 107 thousand tons, with nearly half supplied to Ukraine. This underscores Ukraine's crucial role in generating Poland's export revenue from this crop.

In contrast, Ukraine's own potato exports in 2025 were minimal, totaling just 3.4 thousand tons valued at $812,000. The main buyers were Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Singapore. Ukrainian potatoes face limited domestic sales, and exports to the EU remain impossible. This trend is linked to population displacement abroad and mobilization, which impacted household-level production. Since the full-scale invasion began, although planting areas on farms and agri-holdings have increased, overall potato output has still declined.

Egyptian potatoes do not dominate the market but fill a traditional off-season niche, which also shapes import patterns. Ukraine consistently imports seed potatoes from major EU breeding companies, which meets the core needs of its farmers.

The 2025 import spike underscores the severe challenges facing Ukraine's agricultural sector, exacerbated by war and climate instability. The increased dependence on foreign suppliers could have long-term implications for the nation's food security. Simultaneously, despite high demand, Ukrainian producers struggle to sell their own crop, pointing to the urgent need for support for local agri-production and adaptation to new market realities.