Belarusian price ceiling for vegetables and fruits, with centralized winter storage

Who does it apply to?

The decision, announced on September 29, applies to legal entities that sell their products on government orders; the specified prices do not include storage and transportation costs.

Maximum prices (BYN/kg, in brackets approx. HUF/kg):

• Potatoes: 0.63 BYN (~89 HUF)

• Beets: 0.66 BYN (~93 HUF)

• Carrot: 0.75 BYN (~109 HUF)

• Head cabbage: 0.94 BYN (~136 HUF)

• Red onion: 1.00 BYN (~144 HUF)

• Apple: 2.60 BYN (~374 HUF)

Crop outlook in 2025

• Potatoes: approx. 1.0 million tonnes (+30% compared to 2024).

• Total vegetables: 587 thousand tonnes (~102% compared to last year’s weak year).

Winter storage program (state stabilization stocks, total ~150 thousand tons):

• Potatoes: 59 thousand tons (~6% of the crop)

• Vegetables: 63 thousand t (~11%)

• Apple: 27 thousand t (~40%)

What does this mean for the market?

• The price ceiling curbs price increases in state channels, and in the short term it may have a price stabilizing effect in the domestic consumer basket.

• Centralized storage can mitigate supply risks in the winter months (security of supply), but at the same time it may distort competition and producer pricing in the market segment, especially in the event of increased logistics costs (since the ceiling is the storage/transport not included).