For the first time in a year and a half the prices for buckwheat began to fall. Experts explain this by large stocks, the expectation of a new crop, as well as price competition with other similar products - rice and pasta.

According to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture, prepared for the government commission, the average retail price for buckwheat decreased from August of last year by 17.5%. In addition, in the consumer market there is a decline in sugar prices, as well as general stabilization.

Nevertheless, calling the situation stable, the authors of the report recognize that the price increase continues, although not as fast as last year. In particular, the consumer price index for April 10 was 101.1% compared to 102.5% last year, Izvestia writes..

But the leader of the fall was buckwheat, which, according to the Unified Inter-Agency Information System (EMISS) in August 2016, cost 94.14 rubles per 1 kg. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, today it costs 77.51 rubles per 1 kg.

Experts explain the decline in prices for various reasons. So, in the network Metro Cash & Carry believe that because of the high price there was a redistribution of demand. Buyers began to choose other side dishes and bases for cereals.

But according to the president of the National Union of Grain Producers Pavel Skurikhin, at the end of the summer of 2016, wholesalers, fearing a shortage of buckwheat because the harvesting took place in bad weather, raised prices. Now there is a correction.

However, a high level of inventory stocks, contributing to the fall in prices, is offset by exports. So, a lot of buckwheat is bought by Lithuania, Poland, Japan, as well as Ukraine and China. Since recently, this product has been sold to Austria, Belgium and Germany.

And yet, there are no serious reasons for the high cost of buckwheat. According to the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia Sergey Katyrin, the reason for the increase in the price of buckwheat groats - in the desire of some categories of entrepreneurs on an equal footing to get additional benefits. After all, the price of agricultural producers for this product has not changed: "all the same, about 30-35 rubles per kilogram". In 2016, 1,187 thousand. Tons of buckwheat, which is 38% more than in 2015, reports RNS.

The president of the National Trade Association Vadim Zuykov also points to the surplus of stocks, noting that it's time to take care of vacating the place for buckwheat of a new crop. According to him, before the wholesalers is now the task that it could compete with other side dishes - pasta and rice. After all, according to EMISS, in March 1 kg of rice cost an average of 63.23 rubles, for 1 kg of pasta - 68.36 rubles.

Previously reported that for domestic consumption in Russia need 500 thousand. Tons of cereals.