---
title: "Cabbage and Beets Rise, Carrots Fall: What Lies Ahead for Ukraine's Borscht Set Prices Until Late 2026"
description: "In October 2026 in Ukraine, cabbage rose by 10.6%, beets by 14.4%, carrots fell by 10.3%, and onions remained flat. A UCAB expert does not expect a general drop in borscht set prices by the end of the year."
date: 2026-10-30T13:05:03.125Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/borscht-set-prices-ukraine-2026
tags: [ukraine, vegetable-prices, food-inflation, market-analysis, borsch-set]
author: "Darya Fomina"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Cabbage and Beets Rise, Carrots Fall: What Lies Ahead for Ukraine's Borscht Set Prices Until Late 2026

![A wooden crate with fresh borscht set vegetables on the ground in a garden next to garden tools](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/30/tseny-na-borshchevoy-nabor-v-ukraine-do-kontsa-2026/tseny-na-borshchevoy-nabor-v-ukraine-do-kontsa-2026-1.webp)

## Key Points

- In October 2026 compared to September in Ukraine, cabbage rose by 10.6%, beets by 14.4%, carrots fell by 10.3%, and onions remained practically unchanged.
- UCAB expert Maxim Hopka explains price heterogeneity not only by seasonality, but also by individual crop supply, harvesting quality, storage, and producer behavior.
- By the end of 2026, gradual stabilization is expected without a general price drop; the shift to stored vegetables and unstable energy supply increase costs.

In October 2026, divergent price trends were recorded on the Ukrainian market for vegetables of the so-called borscht set. Despite the seasonal arrival of the new harvest, certain crops noticeably increased in price while others became cheaper. According to RBC-Ukraine, compared to September, cabbage rose in price by 10.6% and beets by 14.4%, whereas carrots fell in price by 10.3%, and the cost of onions remained virtually unchanged. Thus, the new harvest has not yet yielded the expected uniform decrease in the cost of basic vegetables.

### Why Prices Are Moving in Opposite Directions

Maxim Hopka, head of the analytical department at UCAB, explained in a commentary to the publication that the vegetable market situation remains heterogeneous even with the new harvest available. According to him, current dynamics are driven by more than just seasonality: prices are influenced by the actual supply of individual crops, harvesting quality, storage capabilities, and producers' behavior. It is the combination of these factors that shapes a distinct trajectory for each item in the borscht set — ranging from growth in cabbage and beets to a decline in carrots.

### Transition to Stored Vegetables

An important factor in the second half of the year will be the transition from selling freshly harvested produce to realizing vegetables from storage facilities. This process traditionally increases producers' costs. Furthermore, under unstable energy supplies, the impact of this factor on production costs may intensify, further supporting prices for certain crops and limiting room for a decline.

### Forecast Until the End of 2026

According to Maxim Hopka's forecast, a significant general cheapening of the entire borscht set is not expected before the end of 2026. He calls the gradual stabilization of individual vegetables and the continued moderate appreciation of those crops whose supply of quality long-term storage produce remains limited the most likely scenario. Until the end of the year, the market will likely retain a heterogeneous picture: some positions will stabilize, while others will continue to rise in price.

Summary: Despite the influx of the new harvest, Ukraine's borscht set market in the second half of 2026 is moving in diverse directions without a single downward trend. The key price drivers will be the transition to stored vegetables and the state of energy supplies, meaning buyers should expect stabilization across most positions and targeted price increases for specific crops.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Борщевой набор дорожает: какие овощи выросли в цене и чего ждать до конца года](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/borshchoviy-nabir-dorozhchae-ki-ovochi-zrosli-1793364471.html) - Primary source; matches article facts: cabbage +10.6%, beets +14.4%, carrots -10.3%, onions unchanged; Maxim Hopka's (UCAB) forecast regarding stabilization without general cheapening until late 2026.
- [Что разогнало ценник на овощи?](https://www.bfm.ru/news/617373) - Describes the Russian market (ruble prices, annual growth of 20–38%); does not confirm or refute Ukrainian figures, used only as external context.
- [В Петербурге резко выросли цены на бензин и "борщевой набор"](https://www.dp.ru/a/2026/07/17/v-peterburge-rezko-virosli) - Refers to the St. Petersburg market (Russia); not applicable to facts regarding Ukraine, context.
- [Эксперт не исключил роста цен на «борщевой набор» в Крыму осенью и зимой](https://news.mail.ru/society/72526120/) - Refers to the Crimea market (Russia); not applicable to facts regarding Ukraine, context.

## FAQ

### Which borscht set vegetables rose in price in Ukraine in October 2026?

Compared to September, cabbage increased by 10.6% and beets by 14.4%.

### What became cheaper on the vegetable market in October 2026?

Carrots dropped in price by 10.3%, while the cost of onions remained virtually unchanged.

### Is a general decrease in borscht set prices expected by the end of 2026?

No, according to UCAB expert Maxim Hopka, a significant general reduction is not expected; stabilization for individual vegetables and moderate price growth for crops with limited quality storage supply are likely.