Wheat export prices declined in the Russian Federation, while domestic prices of wheat exhibited mixed trends in the subregion
In the Russian Federation, export prices of milling wheat declined by about 3 percent in November, in line with trends of other origins. The forecast of a bumper 2022 national wheat harvest, as well as large domestic availabilities, provided downward pressure on prices, which reached levels around 6 percent below those of November 2021. However, increasing demand from importing countries and the projected yearly reduction of area planted with 2023 winter wheat crops limited the decline.
Wholesale prices of milling wheat rose in November for the fourth consecutive month in Ukraine, in line with seasonal trends, but remained about 28 percent lower than a year earlier. In Kazakhstan, average retail prices of wheat flour remained stable, at levels about 30 percent above those in November 2021 amid strong demand from importing countries and a sustained pace of export activity, resulting in lower domestic availability.
In importing countries of the subregion, prices of wheat flour exhibited mixed trends and were above their year-earlier levels, amid higher production and transportation costs. Prices declined slightly in Georgia in November and in Belarus in October, but were over 20 percent higher than a year earlier. Prices remained virtually unchanged in October in Armenia and in the Republic of Moldova, where the drought-induced reduced output in 2022 and the depreciation of the local currency against the United States dollar contributed to the yearly increase in prices. In Kyrgyzstan, wheat flour prices remained stable or increased moderately, remaining 30 percent higher than in November a year earlier. The imposition of temporary restrictions on wheat exports contributed to averting sharp price increases in Armenia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. In Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, prices rose in October, in line with seasonal trends.
Retail prices of potatoes, another staple food in the subregion, seasonally increased in most countries. Prices rose in November in Georgia to year‑on‑year higher levels and in the Russian Federation to values below those a year earlier. Prices also increased in October in Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Republic of Moldova and Uzbekistan. Prices of potatoes in November showed mixed trends in Kazakhstan, where they were on average about 10 percent higher than a year earlier despite a large output harvested in 2022 and in Kyrgyzstan, where they were 15 percent lower year-on-year.






