The cost of delivery has increased significantly due to fuel shortages, – reports UMDIS Mushroom Information Agency. Mushroom farms in Ukraine have faced an increase in the cost of delivery of raw materials and mushrooms due to fuel shortages in Ukraine. Fuel is not available at most gas stations, and where it is available – there are long queues. Fuel can be bought for 45 Euro per liter also (1,41 Euro) – however that is very difficult to find it for such price, and stay in the long queuer.Under these conditions, the black market of fuel appeared, where prices reach UAH 75 per liter (2.35 Euro), even 100 UAH (3.14 Euro).

The cost before the war used to be nearly 30 UAH (0,94 Euro) per liter.

According to mushroom farms, transport companies have increased delivery prices over the past two weeks by 15-20%, citing fuel problems. Now the price of transportation is about 2 times high as at the beginning of the year. Although the vast majority are currently able to find transport, there are fears that if the situation is not resolved in the coming days, supplies may be disrupted.

For mushroom industry delays are a huge problem because of short term of mushroom storage – suring 1-2 days of looking for transport the whole supply may be spoiled. The similar situation is with compost.

As we were told in the sales department of the largest compost plant in Ukraine Agaris, as of today all deliveries are going according to plan, although customers report a critical situation with transport.

In the cost of mushrooms, excluding the expanses of compost production, the cost of fuel and delivery in 2021 ranged from 15 to 20%. Now, looking on current fuel prices and rising shipping costs, these figures could rise significantly.