Russian consumers are buying more potato chips again. In the first half of 2026, chip sales grew by 9% in volume compared with a year earlier.

Sales value rose by 17%. The data come from the research company NTech, as reported by Shopper’s Media. The Potato Union republished the report on 25 September.

Price growth has slowed. In the second quarter, chip prices rose by 5%. A year earlier, prices had grown by 15%.

The average price reached 1,167 roubles per kilogram in the second quarter, according to NTech.

Results differ by retailer

Individual retailers reported their own figures. At VkusVill, sales of classic chips rose by 7.1% in units.

At Metro, sales of all chip types grew by 23%. At Yandex Lavka, unit sales rose by 0.3%, while revenue increased by 12%. At Auchan, sales stayed flat year on year.

A representative of Metro noted that premium chips can cost more per gram than a meat steak. Some shoppers are moving to alternatives. Sales of meat snacks at the chain rose by 60%, and fruit chips by 55%.

Drivers of growth

A major chip manufacturer named several reasons for the recovery: restrained pricing, a wider assortment and marketing linked to the football World Cup.

A low base from the previous year also helped.

Link to the raw material market

Chip growth adds to demand for processing potatoes. The Potato Union expects total potato processing in Russia to reach about 3 million tonnes in the 2026/27 season. The union estimated about 1.8 million tonnes in 2025/26.

Processors need varieties with high dry matter and low sugar content for chips. Many Russian breeders now offer domestic chip varieties.

Why it matters

Chips are one of the fastest-growing uses of potatoes in Russia. Rising volumes mean more contracts for growers of processing varieties. Slower price growth suggests that manufacturers are protecting volume rather than margins. For growers, stable contracts with chip plants can offset the sharp seasonal swings of the fresh market.

Photo: Potato chips (illustrative). Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0