On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the growing potato shortage in Russia, which is being exacerbated by disappointing crop yields that have triggered unprecedented price hikes.
“During a meeting yesterday with various business sector representatives, including those from agriculture, it became clear that we are facing a potato deficiency,” Putin stated in a televised discussion. “I also communicated with [Belarusian President] Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko, who mentioned, ‘We’ve already sold our entire stock to Russia.'”
The day prior, Lukashenko’s press office humorously remarked that Belarus had already planted extra potatoes.
For several months, Belarusians have been voicing concerns about the poor quality and limited availability of potatoes in stores. In April, authorities in Minsk sanctioned price increases for potatoes, cabbage, and onions. By early May, Lukashenko acknowledged that the potato shortage had become an issue.
In Russia, potato prices have surged dramatically. According to the state statistics agency Rosstat, retail prices increased by 92% last year, and by May 2025, prices had risen by 166.5% year-on-year—making potatoes the fastest-increasing food item in the country, and marking the highest annual rise since record-keeping began in 2002.
Russia has also become the most expensive market for wholesale potatoes globally. Agricultural analytics firm AB-Center reported a staggering 285.5% year-over-year jump in wholesale prices by early April, increasing from 11.4 rubles ($0.14) to 42.4 rubles ($0.53) per kilogram (excluding VAT).
In contrast, the global average price sits around 17 euro cents (approximately 15.5 rubles) per kilogram.
The price surge follows a poor harvest due to unusual frosts and extended drought periods. In 2024, Russia produced 7.3 million metric tons of potatoes, a decline of 1.2 million tons compared to the previous year.
Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut estimated that domestic demand is approximately 8 million tons per year.
As a response, the Russian government has permitted duty-free potato imports from designated “friendly countries” beginning in January.
Deputy State Duma Speaker Boris Chernyshov has called for temporary state regulation of retail potato prices.
“Potatoes are often referred to as the second bread,” Chernyshov stated in a letter to Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov. “Sharp fluctuations in the prices of such a socially important product significantly strain the budgets of millions of families.”
Meanwhile, some regional leaders are taking direct action. On Tuesday, Governor of the Kaliningrad region Alexei Besprozvannykh prohibited the export of potatoes from the area after local prices surged and shortages began to arise.
