The cost of grapes in Ukraine in 2026 remained approximately at the level of the previous season, despite the significant increase in the price of fertilizers, plant protection products, fuel and logistics, which leads to a decrease in the profitability of wine-growing farms.
The head of the company "VIN'S" Tetyana Shmaglyuchenko said this in an interview with the agricultural publication SEEDS.
According to her, the prices of most varieties of grapes actually remained at the same level as last year. Only certain large pink varieties rose in price. At the same time, the cost of production has increased significantly.
Among the main factors, manufacturers name the increase in the cost of mineral fertilizers, vine protection products, and fuel. Logistics became an additional burden, especially for farms in Bessarabia, where due to damage to the infrastructure and restrictions on traditional routes, the costs of transporting products have increased.
The situation is complicated by the reduction of the harvest. According to producers' estimates, the gross harvest of grapes in some farms this season may be 20-30% lower than last year. Winter frosts and a cold spring negatively affected the yield.
The war also directly affects the vineyards of southern Ukraine. Some plantations were damaged as a result of hostilities, the fall of drone debris and other war-related factors.
The combination of an almost unchanged selling price with an increase in the cost price and a reduction in the harvest forces producers to look for additional sources of income.
One of these areas is the deeper processing of grapes. Farms invest in the production of pastillas, raisins and other products with a higher added value, use infrared dryers and vacuum equipment for processing fruit puree.
Another direction is cooperation with producers of other fruits. This makes it possible to produce combined products using local peaches, plums and other raw materials.
Manufacturers are also investing in energy autonomy. In particular, solar power plants are used to ensure the operation of wells and irrigation systems, which allows to partially reduce dependence on external energy supply.
At the same time, some farms are considering the transition from selling fresh grapes to winemaking. With the grant support of FAO, technical varieties of grapes are planted, which can be used for wine production in the future.
Thus, the key problem for Ukrainian viticulture in 2026 is not so much the lack of demand for products, but the gap between sales price and cost price. Under such conditions, processing allows farms to obtain greater added value from their own raw materials and at the same time to load production and keep employees busy after the end of the harvest season.
Viticulture remains one of the most labor-intensive areas of horticulture in Ukraine. The main industrial production of grapes is concentrated in the southern regions of the country and Transcarpathia, and a significant part of the industry was directly affected by the full-scale war.
Source: SEEDS.
