Silent hunting is getting more expensive: prices for mushrooms in Russia will rise in 2026

Prices for mushrooms, both wild and processed, are expected to rise in Russia in 2026. According to market data, the cost of products is already increasing against the background of inflation, and additional pressure is exerted by logistics, rising costs and a reduction in the production base. For more information about which mushrooms will rise in price and why, see the Izvestia article.

Which mushrooms are popular among Russians

Among the most popular mushrooms among Russians, there are traditionally white mushrooms, podberezoviki, horseradish, chanterelles and butterflyfish. This is confirmed by both opinion polls and market research.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Vasily Japaridze

According to VTsIOM, porcini mushrooms are chosen by more than half of mushroom pickers, and podberezoviki and podosinoviki are consistently among the top three. More recent estimates show that demand remains, although it is distributed among several species. At the same time, as industry representatives note, the structure of demand is gradually changing.

— In our opinion, the most popular wild mushrooms among Russians now are mushrooms. At the same time, a significant part of sales is moving to marketplaces, as well as sales in the markets," Dom Gribov said.

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Demand has also increased for the services of special guides who will help you leave the forest with a full basket.

Why are mushroom prices rising?

The increase in prices for mushroom products is already being recorded. In January 2026 alone, fresh mushrooms rose in price by 6% compared to the previous month. According to market participants, logistics and sales costs have become a key factor in the price increase.

— Prices have changed a lot due to the fact that marketplaces charge up to 46% of the cost of the mushroom. If earlier it cost about 75 rubles to send one jar, now it costs about 350 rubles," the company noted.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Konkov

Additional difficulties are associated with transportation.

— Despite the reinforced packaging, the product may arrive in a damaged form. Logistics is often a problem: products can be transported inaccurately, and the manufacturer receives negative ratings," business representatives explained.

The reduction of the production infrastructure is also having a serious impact on the market.

— Previously, enterprises that produced mushroom processing equipment, such as mushroom cookers, dryers, and slicing lines, operated in Russia. Currently, there is virtually no such industry, there are no investments, so manufacturers have to create infrastructure on their own," Dom Gribov noted.

The increase in costs is also recorded at the stage of purchasing raw materials.

— The purchase price of 1 kg of dried white mushroom today reaches about 4.5 thousand rubles. When purchasing several tons, this requires significant investments, so there is no need to talk about price reductions," the company stressed.

Photo: Global Look Press/Bulkin Sergey

An additional factor remains the cost of fuel.

— Mushroom picking is associated with the cost of gasoline. To leave the village, you need to spend money, while there is no guarantee that the harvest will cover the costs," industry representatives added.

How will the mushroom market change in the coming years

Experts expect that the mushroom market in Russia will continue to grow in the coming years. According to forecasts, sales may increase 1.5 times by 2030, which will be accompanied by a moderate increase in prices — by an average of 5-10% annually. At the same time, wild mushrooms remain more dependent on seasonality and yield, unlike cultivated champignons and oyster mushrooms.

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Increased competition from imported products is becoming a separate trend.

— Chinese mushrooms are actively appearing on marketplaces now. Their price may be three times lower than that of Russian ones, but these are artificially grown products," the company noted.

Photo: TASS/Alexander Mamaev

Market participants are also paying attention to the change in consumer habits.

— The consumer is not getting younger today. Young people choose fast food more often and buy traditional mushroom preparations less often," the company said.

At the same time, the demand from the older generation remains, including due to the nutritional value of the product.

— Mushrooms contain chitin and a large amount of vitamins. For older people, this is one of the sources of calcium, which is important for strengthening bones.

Overall, according to market participants, mushroom prices will continue to rise in 2026, with logistics, production costs, and changes in demand patterns remaining key factors.