In 2024, Belarus harvested just 3.11 million tonnes of potatoes, a 22.6% drop compared to 2023, according to Belstat. The decline was especially sharp among agricultural enterprises, where output fell by 42.1%. Despite this, Belarus emerged as the top potato exporter to Russia, supplying 193,800 tonnes, ahead of Egypt (75,300 tonnes) and China (46,700 tonnes).
Russia also faced a poor harvest, producing around 7.3 million tonnes of potatoes in 2024, 14% less than the year before. This fell short of domestic demand, estimated at 8 million tonnes. As a result, potato prices surged: Rosstat reported a 92% increase in 2024, and a staggering 166.5% year-on-year rise in the first four months of 2025, the fastest food inflation rate since 2002. Wholesale prices jumped 3.8 times over the year, reaching 42.4 Russian rubles/kg (€0.48), while the global average remains around €0.17/kg.
Amid the shortage, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev called for expanding imports from "friendly" countries in late 2024, a move supported by the government. As a result, Russia's total potato imports more than tripled in early 2025, reaching 548,000 tonnes, primarily from Egypt and China.
During a meeting of the supervisory board of the "Russia, Land of Opportunity" organization on May 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked: "It turns out we don't have enough potatoes. I spoke with Alexander Lukashenko, and he said, 'We've already sold everything to Russia.'"
In response to domestic market conditions, Belarus issued Decree No. 287, lifting restrictions on imports of potatoes, onions, cabbage, and apples from so-called "unfriendly" countries, including EU member states.
Source: myfin.by