Russia: Potato Prices Fall 13.1% in September, Steepest Drop Among Foods as New Crop Arrives
Rosstat recorded the sharpest monthly decline among food products, wholesale slipped to 21.1 RUB/kg by early October — yet prices remain well above last year and seed costs are up 10.4%.
Potatoes were the fastest-cheapering food product in Russia in September 2026, falling 13.1% month on month, the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) reported on 9 October 2026. Cabbage fell 12.7%, carrots 12% and onions 9.5% over the same month.
Wholesale prices confirm the downward trend: average wholesale potato prices stood at 21.1 RUB/kg excluding VAT on 2 October, with a mean minimum of 16.3 RUB/kg, according to AB-Center data — down from 22.3 RUB/kg at the end of August.
The decline comes from a high base: retail prices averaged 59.1 RUB/kg at the end of August, up 35.3% year on year, after planted area in the industrial sector fell to an 18-year low. The Russian Potato Union has warned that prices near production cost are pushing some growers to reconsider planting for 2027.
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A countervailing pressure is building for next season: average seed prices in Russia rose 9.8%, with potato seed up 10.4%, Zernoonline reported on 11 October 2026.
Sources: Rosstat via RIA Novosti and URA.RU, 9-10 October 2026; AB-Center via grainboard.ru, 10 October 2026; Kommersant, 1 October 2026; zol.ru, 11 October 2026.
