Demand for basic goods in stores has noticeably increased, but the main question is whether there is a reason to worry.
Ukrainians have started buying long-lasting food products much more actively online — primarily cereals, canned goods, flour, and oil. In some categories, the number of orders has more than doubled over the year, and buyers often purchase goods in large packages or boxes at once.
At the same time, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy assures that there is no physical shortage of food in Ukraine, and restrictions on the sale of certain goods, which some retail chains have begun to introduce, may actually encourage people to make panic purchases.
Ukrainians have become more active in stocking up on long-lasting food products
Over the past month, Ukrainians have noticeably increased online orders of products that can be stored for a long time.
This is evidenced by data from one of the large Ukrainian online platforms. Not only the number of orders is growing, but also the amounts buyers are willing to spend on such purchases.
The greatest increase was recorded in the cereals category.
Demand for cereals increased 2.2 times
Amid the spread of information about a possible food shortage, Ukrainians have become significantly more active in buying cereals.
The number of such orders increased 2.2 times compared to the same period last year.
The average check in this category reached 529 hryvnias, which is 35% more than last year.
Buyers most often order:
oatmeal;
buckwheat;
wheat groats;
rice.
Canned goods are being bought 1.7 times more often
A significant increase was also recorded in the canned goods category.
The number of orders increased 1.7 times compared to the same period last year.
At the same time, the average check rose by almost a third — it now amounts to 870 hryvnias.
Ukrainians most often buy:
tuna;
tomato paste;
sprats in tomato sauce;
stewed meat;
ready-made meat products.
Flour orders increased almost 1.5 times
Demand for flour has also noticeably grown.
The number of orders for this product increased almost 1.5 times compared to last year.
The average check is 574 hryvnias.
Buyers most often choose traditional wheat flour of the highest and first grades.
Demand for oil increased by 41%
Ukrainians have also started buying vegetable oil more actively.
Over the year, the number of orders increased by 41%.
At the same time, the average check has practically not changed and amounts to 736 hryvnias.
Besides traditional sunflower oil, buyers also order rapeseed oil. Demand is not only for large containers — oil is often bought by the box.
Instant food has also started to be bought more
The smallest increase among the main categories was in demand for freeze-dried products and instant food.
The number of orders increased by 27% compared to the same period last year.
The average check in this category is 704 hryvnias.
One of the most popular products remains instant noodles.
Stores have started limiting the sale of certain products
Against the backdrop of rising demand, some retail chains in Ukraine have begun to introduce restrictions on the quantity of certain goods that can be purchased at one time.
At the end of August, one of the large supermarket chains introduced restrictions on the sale of a number of products.
This concerns, in particular:
eggs;
oil;
pasta;
cereals;
sugar;
canned goods.
These goods are sold with a limit — no more than six pieces or kilograms per receipt.
The Ministry of Agrarian Policy stated that there is no shortage of products
The Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Taras Vysotsky, emphasized that there are no grounds for introducing such restrictions due to a physical shortage of products.
According to him, such measures are premature and may themselves encourage people to make panic purchases.
“Firstly, such measures are definitely premature. Secondly, it is necessary to analyze whether they create even greater panic. People may perceive it this way: if restrictions have already been introduced, then you need to buy all six packs, even if you initially planned to take one,” the minister noted.
Vysotsky also reported that the introduction of sales restrictions by retail chains was not discussed with the relevant ministry.
There is enough sugar, cereals, and oil in Ukraine
According to the minister, there are currently no grounds to limit the sale of products because they are physically lacking.
This especially applies to socially significant goods.
“Therefore, it is difficult to assess its impact on consumer behavior. But there are no grounds to introduce restrictions because of a physical shortage of products. Especially since these are socially significant products — sugar, cereals, oil. Their production volumes are more than sufficient,” Vysotsky assured.
Problems with goods may arise only locally due to logistics
The minister explained that in some stores or settlements, problems with product assortment on shelves may arise due to logistics.
However, according to him, this does not mean that a nationwide food shortage has arisen in Ukraine.
“In certain places, isolated problems may occur, but on a countrywide scale, there is no such problem. In the current situation, there is no reason to worry,” summed up the head of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, reports “RBC-Ukraine.”
Due to attacks on warehouses, food prices may rise
Earlier, Taras Vysotsky warned that due to attacks on warehouse infrastructure, food prices in Ukraine may increase by about 2.5%.
At the same time, he emphasized that there are no prerequisites for a shortage of goods in the country.
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