Analysis of the region’s trading platforms for week 23 of 2026.
Key highlights of the week:
— Sweet cherries became the top-selling product
— Supply of early apples and plums from Uzbekistan is increasing
— Garden strawberries returned to the list of frequently traded products
— Sales of white cabbage dropped sharply
— Potatoes were traded by participants from five countries
— Zucchini is already among the top-selling products
— In Ukraine, “borsch vegetables” are becoming more expensive, while greenhouse vegetables are falling in price
— In Uzbekistan, watermelon prices are declining, while sweet cherries are becoming more expensive
— In the technology group, containers and packaging dominated sales
These and other trends in the region’s fruit and vegetable markets are covered in the weekly review of EastFruit trading platforms.
Last week, participants from 13 countries offered their products in the EastFruit Trade Platform fruit and vegetable trading group, while the total number of posted offers decreased by 5%. This was primarily due to a decline in sales activity in Ukraine. Participants from Iran and Romania also posted fewer offers than a week earlier. At the same time, activity increased among participants from Uzbekistan and Egypt. Offers from Azerbaijan, Moldova, Armenia, Poland and Serbia reappeared. As a result, the top five countries by number of posted offers changed and currently look as follows: Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Iran and Azerbaijan.
Despite a sharp decline in the supply of white cabbage, it remains the leader in the vegetable segment in terms of the number of posted offers. Notably, cabbage was traded last week exclusively by participants from Ukraine. At the same time, potato offers came from five countries. Onion remains the least represented vegetable in the “borsch basket” on the trading platform, and the number of sellers continues to decline. Zucchini has once again appeared among the frequently traded products, with Ukrainian participants increasing their sales. Among the products that did not make it into the top list, relatively active sales of radishes and greens should also be noted.
The supply of sweet cherries continues to grow. As a result, last week sweet cherries became the No. 1 product in terms of the number of posted sales offers. Active sellers from Uzbekistan were joined by participants from Ukraine. Sweet cherry offers also came from Azerbaijan, Moldova, Greece and Serbia. Incidentally, prolonged rains may further reduce the sweet cherry harvest in Moldova. Apple sales remained at the level of the previous period. Supply of early apples and plums from Uzbekistan is increasing, with plums already entering the top-selling products on the platform. Garden strawberries also returned to the list of frequently traded products. Watermelon is likely to join this list soon, as its sales continue to grow steadily.
Young potatoes and garden strawberries remained in the highest demand among participants. Users of the group were also quite active in purchasing zucchini.
Below, based on price offers from participants, EastFruit data and wholesale market information, we analyze the price situation in Ukraine and Uzbekistan and compare it with the previous week.
Prices in the EastFruit Trade Platform group – Ukraine
Last week in Ukraine was marked by rising prices for vegetables of the “borsch set.” Both last year’s produce and vegetables of the new harvest became more expensive. The only exception was early potatoes, whose prices decreased slightly. Tomatoes continued to fall in price, cucumbers became cheaper again, and sweet pepper also started to decline. Chinese cabbage and cauliflower increased in price, while zucchini and eggplant were sold at lower prices than a week earlier. Green pea prices collapsed. At the same time, prices for asparagus and greens increased.
Prices in the fruit and berry segment moved in different directions. Apples became more expensive, while pears became cheaper. Prices for kiwi and lemons increased, while bananas and avocados declined in price. Sweet cherries and blueberries continued to become cheaper. Apricots increased in price, while the price range for garden strawberries narrowed.
Prices in the EastFruit Trade Platform group – Uzbekistan
In Uzbekistan, onion prices started to rise, while potatoes became cheaper. Tomatoes and cucumbers were sold at lower prices than in the previous week. The garden strawberry season is coming to an end, which is accompanied by rising prices. Sweet cherries increased in price at the peak of the season. Watermelon prices declined for the second consecutive week. The first price offers for melons appeared. Meanwhile, major international retail chains Costco and AEON plan to increase purchases of fruits and vegetables from Uzbekistan for sale on the Japanese market.
Activity among participants in the EastFruit Fruittechnology technology group continues to decline. This was primarily driven by a reduction in offers of vegetable seedlings. Participants also offered fertilizers and plant protection products less frequently than a week earlier. As a result, containers and packaging became the best-selling product of the week, with the number of sellers increasing. As usual, various technological materials and equipment were also offered. Greenhouse installation services were promoted as well. Meanwhile, breeding company Rijk Zwaan and German agrotechnology startup Eternal.ag announced the launch of a joint project to study tomato varieties best suited for use with robotic systems in modern high-tech greenhouses.
Read the analysis of fruit and vegetable supply dynamics on trading platforms for week 22 of 2026 here, and find out what was traded during the same period last year here.
EastFruit
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