The share of imported apples on the shelves of Ukrainian supermarkets has decreased from 60% to 20% over the past ten years
Over the past decade, the share of imported apples on the shelves of Ukrainian supermarkets has dropped from 60% to 20%. According to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development, domestic producers now supply approximately 80% of the domestic market. This was reported by Delo.ua citing Dmytro Kysylevskyi, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Dmytro Kysylevskyi, Deputy Chair of the committee, stated that the key driver of this shift was the emergence of agricultural companies that invested in the business and scaled it to industrial levels. These enterprises invested in intensive technologies, professional equipment, and large storage facilities, enabling them to gradually displace foreign competitors.
Case Study: Konik Company
As an example of sector modernization, Kysylevskyi cited the Zakarpattia-based company Konik, whose products are available in chains such as Novus, Silpo, Metro, and others. The company cultivates 750,000 apple trees using intensive orchard methods. Depending on conditions and variety, each tree yields between 60 and 90 fruits, allowing for an annual harvest of 6,500 to 10,000 tons of apples. The majority of the harvest is sent to retail chains, while the remainder is used for juice and cider production.
Andriy Melesh, co-owner of the company, noted that Ukrainian consumers are increasingly preferring domestically produced apples, with growing interest in traditional varieties.
Import Substitution Prospects
Meanwhile, the fresh fruit market still holds significant potential for further import substitution. While the apple market is largely saturated by local companies, imported pears still account for 80–90% of sales, offering ample opportunities for domestic growers. Notably, most Ukrainian orchardists expect a decline in wholesale apple prices from January to May 2027, with the most common scenario being an 11–20% drop in value.
Photo: facebook.com/kysylevskyy.official
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