According to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UAC), Ukraine exported 19,600 tons of beef in 2025, which is 1.5% less than the previous year and 15% below the average for the past five years.
The business association noted that total beef production last year amounted to 222,000 tons. Despite war-related risks, producers continue to actively respond to high international demand due to low activity in the domestic market. The key export destinations were European countries outside the EU (44.7% of the total volume) and Asia (40.5%).
The association’s analysts noted that the industry continues to face a decline in the cattle herd. As of 2025, the cattle herd stands at 2.0 million head, which is 10% less than in 2024 and 24% below the five-year average. The largest decline was recorded in private households and the eastern regions of the country.
“Since the domestic market is less active, producers are optimizing sales by focusing on more profitable foreign markets. Global demand for meat is encouraging Ukrainian farmers and enterprises to increase exports, making foreign trade a strategic factor in supporting the industry,” experts explained.
According to UCAB data, cattle currently account for 45% (0.9 million head) of the total herd at enterprises, while 55% (1.1 million head) are concentrated in private households.
Beef imports in 2025 amounted to 2,000 tons, which is 35% less than in 2024 and 4.5 times lower than the average over the past five years.
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