Cabbage and onions rose sharply in price

The reduction in stocks in high demand and lean 2024 led to a sharp increase in retail prices for cabbage and onions. Over the year, these vegetables, included in the so -called borscht set, went up by 57–87%. In the future, the growth of imports from friendly countries can stabilize prices in the future, experts say.

The average cost of onions in retail on May 12, 2025 amounted to 72.3 rubles. per 1 kg, white cabbage – 75.2 rubles. for 1 kg, follows from the data of Rosstat. By the year, these values ​​increased by 87.2% and 56.8%, respectively. The rise in price of these products significantly exceeds the correction of prices for other vegetables that make up the so -called borscht set. For example, the cost of beetroot, according to Rosstat, increased by 11.9%over the year, fresh tomatoes – by 1.2%, and the carrots even became a little combined.

The chairman of the Presidium of the Association of Retail Companies Stanislav Bogdanov explains that cabbage and onions are among the leaders in the growth of purchase prices for the last year. According to him, large retailers are now selling these vegetables with a “negative margin”: onions – 13% lower than the purchase price, cabbage – by 5%.

A pronounced increase in prices for these crops can be traced against the backdrop of a decrease in a sentence.

The AB-Center analytical agency explained to Kommersant that in 2024 the cabbage harvest in the industrial sector of vegetable growing was reduced by 5.6%, to 873.6 thousand tons. For onions, the decrease was 0.7%, up to 1.12 million tons.

According to the “AB-Center”, the yield of onions in agricultural expenses and peasant farms last year decreased by 9.4% and 3.5%, respectively. The qualitative characteristics of the products also decreased: there was more small, inaccurate onions. The head of the apparatus of the potato union, Tatyana Gubina, explains that onions and cabbage are strongly dependent on the level of moisture in the soil. Last year, in one of the key to cultures, the Volgograd region, drought and water supply problems were observed, it recalls.

Tatyana Gubina explains that onion production varies in the range of 1–1.4 million tons per year, cabbage – about 1 million tons. They occupy the second and third places, respectively, in terms of yield among vegetables of open soil, second only to potatoes. The latter is also rapidly growing up: in the retail in mid -May, according to Rosstat, it cost 89.8 rubles. for kg. Year by the year, the indicator increased by 166% or 2.7 times (See “Kommersant” from May 6).

The expert calls the production of vegetables cyclic: in 2023, farmers managed to collect a record crop, this led to a decrease in prices. As a result, in 2024, the areas for them were reduced.

In 2025, the indicators, according to Tatyana Khubina, can again grow due to rising prices. “Long -term contracts of networks with suppliers can avoid serious fluctuations,” the expert explains.

Another interlocutor “Kommersant” from among the farmers, who was in a difficult situation due to increasing the areas for growing radishes, is also talking about the cyclicity of the market. “Last year, prices for it grew, and this year they fall with an increase in the offer,” explains the source of Kommersant. He also draws attention to the cost of production: farmers grow fertilizers, plant protection products.

An important factor in price fluctuations is seasonality. The AB-Center draws attention to the fact that cabbage is in high demand in the fall and early winter, acting for the population an affordable source of fiber and vitamins under the conditions of rising prices for imported vegetables and fruits. Due to this, by mid -spring, its reserves are significantly reduced.

The AB-Center does not exclude that the factor in price stabilization will be the growth of supply on the wholesale bases of imported young cabbage, mainly from Iran and Uzbekistan.

Among other active importers in the potato union, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan are allocated, deliveries from China are actively growing. This in the near future can be reflected on retail, where prices will at least stop growing, AB-Center analysts say. Luke, according to analysts, comes mainly from Uzbekistan, China, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Dmitry Leonov, deputy chairman of the Board of the Rusprodsoyuz Association (unites large manufacturers of food), connects the prospects for reducing prices with the start of the new crop market. In the potato union, it is clarified that the main volume of Russian cabbage and onions is on the shelves since July. But in Dagestan, cleaning can go in winter, and in the Krasnodar Territory two crops are harvested in a year.

Prices increases little to the volume of consumption of vegetables of borschtes: the demand for these products is inelastic. “Onions and cabbage are the basic ingredients of many dishes, but usually they occupy a small part of the consumer basket,” explains Mr. Leonov. According to Nielsen, natural sales of onions from April 2024 to March 2025 increased by 3.9% by the previous 12 months, cabbage by 1.2%. Carrots showed an increase of 6.1%, and beets – by 3.9%.

Kommersant Ministry of Agriculture reported that this year, the area under open ground vegetables will be increased, which will contribute to the stabilization of the price situation next season. The ministry also spoke about the creation and modernization of vegetable stores: at the beginning of 2025, the total power of storage of vegetables and potatoes in the country increased to 9.2 million tons, which is 147 thousand tons above the last year.

Alexandra Meretsalov