Sharp Drop in Demand for Land: How Much Does a Hectare Cost, and Where Has Farmland Become Cheaper?

Agricultural land sales in Ukraine experienced their sharpest decline since the beginning of 2026—17.6% fewer plots were sold over the course of the month, and their total area decreased by 18%. 

Ihor Yurchenko, a senior researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Economics, reported this to Latifundist.com, as reported by Dengi.ua.

How Much Did the Number of Land Transactions Decrease in August?

In August 2026, the number of agricultural land sales in Ukraine decreased by 17.6% compared to July. A total of 8,255 transactions were concluded during the month, compared to 10,013 in July. The total area of land plots sold decreased by 18% - from 19,800 hectares to 16,300 hectares.

According to Yurchenko, the decline in transaction volume in August was the sharpest since the beginning of 2026. In the spring and summer, the market slowed gradually - by a few percent each month.

Why the Average Land Price Remained Virtually Unchanged

Despite the drop in the number of transactions, the average price of land remained virtually unchanged. In August, it stood at UAH 60,400 per hectare, compared to UAH 60,900 per hectare a month earlier, falling by only 0.8%.

The Institute attributes this relative stability to a shift in the market structure. In August, the share of transactions in regions where land is more expensive per hectare increased, while the share of regions with lower prices decreased. This offset the decline in land prices in certain regions.

In Which Regions Did Land Prices Fall the Most?

Among the leading regions, land prices fell most noticeably in the Khmelnytskyi region - by 17.5%. The average price fell from UAH 79,300 per hectare in July to UAH 65,400 per hectare in August. At the same time, the region’s share of the total number of transactions increased.

In the Chernihiv region, by contrast, the price decline was accompanied by a reduction in the region’s market share.

“The nationwide figure of - 0.8% does not reflect the actual situation in certain regions, where the price correction was significantly more pronounced,” noted the Institute of Agricultural Economics.

Will Land Prices Fall in September?

According to Ihor Yurchenko’s assessment, if the pace of deceleration continues in September, the structural effect may no longer be able to offset the price decline, resulting in a more significant drop in the average cost of land across Ukraine.