Pumpkin seeds: commercial cultivation in Ukraine on the rise
October 21, 2026 at 12:31 PM ,
Der AUDITOR
Chinese crop significantly smaller
The global pumpkin seed market is seeing further price rises; this is due to the significantly smaller Chinese crop of the shine skin variety, the volume of which, according to estimates, could be more than 25% below last year’s level. A large proportion of the new crop has already been bought up and stored by buyers and processors, and depending on the total stocks held by individual traders, there are also cheaper offers available. However, as stocks on farms continue to decline, buyers, warehouse operators and processors are gaining increasing influence over the market, as reported by the experts at Chelmer Foods.
EU-compliant goods particularly scarce
The supply of pumpkin seeds that meet EU requirements is significantly scarcer than in previous years. Price premiums are expected for this produce, given the limited supply and sustained demand. The availability of GWS kernels is also below last year’s level. In contrast, weaker demand for conventional GWS goods could put downward pressure on prices in some markets.
Additional costs for fuel, freight and agricultural inputs are putting pressure on the supply chain. Chelmer Foods also points to geopolitical uncertainties, which are leading to fluctuating transport costs and ongoing challenges with pricing. Depending on the supplier, grade A shine skins currently cost around USD 2.58/kg CFR EMP, whilst grade A GWS kernels are trading at USD 3.54/kg CFR.
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Pumpkin kernels, China |
|
|
Type |
USD/mt |
|
GWS, Grade A |
3,540 |
|
GWS, Grade AA |
3,890 |
|
Shine Skin, Grade A |
2,580 |
|
Shine Skin, Grade AA |
4,260 |
|
CFR EMP; price indications |
|
Increased pumpkin cultivation in Ukraine
As reported by UkrAgroConsult, large-scale commercial pumpkin cultivation in Ukraine is increasingly expanding alongside traditional production by households. The acreage is estimated at around 30,000 ha for 2026. AgroPortal reported this, citing the Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine (NAAS). More precise or official estimates are not available due to the separate reporting categories.
Commercial production is increasing particularly for pumpkins grown for seed, but interest in edible pumpkins for the fresh market and processing is also growing. According to Pavlo Bulhakov, a specialist adviser on vegetable storage, demand for fresh pumpkins is rising, whilst domestic production is failing to meet that demand.
Storage affects prices and marketing
Profitability depends largely on storage capacity and the timing of sales. Farmgate prices are usually lower immediately after the harvest and rise from the end of October, with a particularly marked increase in February and March. Last season, prices rose significantly during this period. At the same time, due to the war, commercial cultivation is increasingly shifting from the traditional southern and eastern regions to other parts of the country, including Cherkasy, Poltava and Kyiv. However, according to UkrAgroConsult, weather risks as well as insufficient storage, logistics and processing capacities are hampering this development. Due to the drought, pumpkin seed yields on some farms are expected to be low in 2026.
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