Winter frosts may reduce beet supply in the region

By: Trademagazin Date: 2026. 01. 20. 10:35

🎧 Hallgasd a cikket: Nyelv: Sebesség: 1.05×

The Polish beetroot market remained sluggish until the end of 2025, and the recovery in demand typical of the winter months had not yet arrived in December. Despite this, the wholesale price of washed, bagged beetroot remained relatively stable: by the end of the month it was typically in the range of PLN 0.80–0.90/kg (approx. HUF 74–83/kg), which, despite weak demand, meant a price level above the five- and ten-year average, as we learn from FruitVeb’s compilation.

However, at the beginning of the year, the first signs of a price increase are already visible. By mid-January, the wholesale price range had shifted to PLN 0.80–1.00/kg (approx. HUF 74–92/kg), and market participants believe that persistent frosts could even justify higher prices, as the supply of fresh vegetables typically shrinks in cold weather. The key question for the coming weeks is how durable the current recovery will be and how long the upward pressure on prices can last.

However, the picture is colored by the fact that the supply side remains strong on paper. According to a recent estimate by the Polish Statistical Office (GUS), the 2025 beetroot harvest could have been 267.5 thousand tonnes, which is higher than previous forecasts and an outstanding amount even in a multi-year comparison. This abundance could curb a sustained, larger increase in prices.

The risk may now be shaped more by the supply at the end of winter. Low prices were typical in Poland and Ukraine during the season, which is why part of the crop remained unharvested in the fields – these items could have been damaged or destroyed in a large proportion in the current frosts. If this shortage is materially reflected on the market, supply could narrow in the coming weeks, and even Ukrainian import demand could strengthen – which could be a further price-raising factor.