After the full-scale invasion and blocking of seaports in 2022, Ukraine began to actively use land routes for exporting agricultural products, which significantly reduced the transit of agricultural products through the EU, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB).
Analysts noted that the maximum volume exported across the borders of neighboring countries was 3.7 million tons of grains, oilseeds and their products in August 2023, when the “grain corridor” had already stopped working and Ukraine’s own sea route had not yet started working.
Experts stated that the structure of exports by country was as follows: Romania – 73% of the total exported volume (thanks to the seaport of Constanta), Poland – 14%, Hungary – 9%, Moldova – 2%, and Slovakia – 2%.
“Establishing its own export route has allowed Ukraine to reduce transit through neighboring countries. Over the past 6 months of 2024, the average monthly volume of exports through neighboring countries decreased by 3.7 times compared to the peak figure and averaged 1.0 million tons of grains, oilseeds and processed products,” the UCAB emphasized.
At the same time, in December 2024, compared to the peak, exports through the Romanian border decreased by 8.2 times to 0.3 million tons, Polish – by 1.9 times to 0.3 million tons, Hungarian – by 1.9 times to 0.2 million tons, Moldovan – by 8.9 times to 0.01 million tons and Slovak – by 12.0 times to 0.01 million tons.
In January 2025, Ukraine exported 5 million tons of agricultural products, which is 9.7% less than the same indicator of the previous month, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB).
“For the third month, there has been a downward trend, but this is typical for the winter period in the absence of force majeure,” analysts explained.
Speaking about the structure of exports in January 2025, they noted that the exports of grains decreased by 3% to 3.5 mln tonnes (corn – 72%, wheat – 26%, barley – 2%) compared to December 2024, oilseeds – by 39% to 352 thsd tonnes. tons (soybeans – 63%, rapeseed – 29% and sunflower seeds – 6%), cake after extraction of vegetable oils – by 22% to 406.3 thsd tonnes (sunflower – 67%, soybean – 33%), other agricultural products – by 24% to 329.5 thsd tonnes.
At the same time, the export of vegetable oils increased by 1% compared to December 2024, to 424.4 thsd tonnes (sunflower oil – 89% and soybean oil – 10%).
The analysts noted that the export volumes of grains and vegetable oils remained approximately at the level of the previous month. Oilseeds (-39%) and oilcakes after extraction of vegetable oils (-22%) showed the decline.
“In the current marketing year, the vast majority of agricultural products intended for export have already been exported, in particular, wheat – 64%, corn – 55%. Accordingly, in the coming months, a further slight reduction in export shipments is possible,” UCAB predicts.
Despite the temporary occupation of part of the agricultural land by the enemy, Ukraine demonstrated good results in the agricultural sector in 2024 and was able to return the historical ways of agricultural exports, and therefore offers the Portuguese Republic to strengthen cooperation, said Vitalii Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, at an online meeting with José Manuel Fernandes, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Portugal.
“In 2024, 57% of Ukraine’s agricultural exports went to the EU countries. In total, Ukraine exported agricultural products worth $24.6 billion, including $211.6 million to Portugal,” the Ministry of Agrarian Policy’s press service quoted the minister as saying.
In addition, he emphasized that last year Ukraine returned to its historical ways of agricultural exports, as 86% of agricultural products are exported through Odesa and Danube ports. According to him, Ukraine is actively working to open new markets, particularly in Africa and the Middle East.
Koval urged his Portuguese counterpart to work together to combat the illegal sale of Ukrainian grain to Russia.
The Minister also thanked the people of Portugal for their consistent support of Ukraine and the President’s humanitarian initiative Grain From Ukraine.
In November 2024, Ukraine exported 6.2 million tons of agricultural products, which is 6.5% less than the same indicator of the previous month, but it is still a good monthly export figure, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB).
According to the report, in November 2024, Ukraine increased grain exports by 3%, of which corn accounted for 63%, wheat – 33%, and barley – 4%.
Supplies of oilseeds to foreign markets decreased by 32% to 0.8 mln tons (soybeans – 58% and rapeseed – 41%), vegetable oils – by 8% to 541.2 thsd tonnes. tons (sunflower oil – 89%, soybean oil – 9% and rapeseed oil – 2%), cake after extraction of vegetable oils – by 19% to 383.3 thousand tons (sunflower oil – 78%, soybean oil – 12%), other types of agricultural products – by 5% to 398.5 thousand tons.
“The growth is observed only in the grain group, while the rest of the categories show a decline. The biggest decline was in oilseeds, which decreased by one third. The main reason is the slowdown in rapeseed exports, as the lion’s share of it has already been exported,” commented UCAB.
In January-September 2024, Ukraine exported $1.98 billion worth of agricultural products to Turkey and would like to deepen cooperation in the agro-processing industry, Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval said at a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Ukraine Mustafa Levent Bilgen in Kyiv on Tuesday.
“Ukraine and Turkey complement each other in the agricultural sector. We need to deepen cooperation between the countries, in particular in the agro-processing industry, and move together to new markets,” the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food quoted him as saying.
The Minister noted that Turkish agro-processing companies can find new high-quality markets for their business in Ukraine. This will be beneficial for both countries. Also, Ukraine and Turkey can cooperate in the export of cattle and small cattle meat. Turkey’s experience in irrigation is important for Ukraine. Especially after the Kakhovka dam was blown up.
Koval thanked Turkey for its involvement in ensuring food security. In particular, for participating in the humanitarian initiative of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “Grain From Ukraine”, under which Ukrainian grain is supplied to countries on the African continent.
The Minister of Agrarian Policy invited his Turkish counterpart to discuss further cooperation in agriculture.
For his part, Mustafa Levent Bilgen noted that Turkey appreciates cooperation with Ukraine, particularly in the agricultural sector. However, it understands the importance of the Ukrainian economy and ensuring the world’s food supply through grain exports.
The Turkish Ambassador assured of continued support for Ukraine and expressed readiness to deepen cooperation.
Ukraine continues to hold the third place among the main exporters of agri-food products to the EU after Brazil and the UK, the press service of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) reported, citing an analytical report by the European Commission.
According to the report, Ukraine’s share in imports of agricultural products to the EU in the first six months of 2024 increased by only 2% (EUR 124 million) compared to the same period in 2023.
In total, imports of agri-food products to the EU reached EUR13 billion. Imports from Côte d’Ivoire increased the most in value terms – by EUR951 mln (+46%), followed by Nigeria with EUR473 mln (+132%), due to the rise in cocoa prices.
At the same time, imports from Tunisia more than doubled (+107%), mainly due to the growth of volumes and prices of imported olive oil. Imports from Australia decreased significantly by EUR843 mln (-46%) due to lower volumes of rapeseed, and from Brazil – by EUR634 mln (-7%).
The total exports of agri-food products from the EU in January-June 2024 reportedly reached EUR116.4 billion, which is 1% (+EUR1.1 billion) more than in the same period of 2023.
In the first half of 2024, EU exports to the United States grew the most, increasing by EUR1 billion (+8%) primarily due to higher prices for olives and olive oil. This sector also contributed to an increase in exports to Brazil by EUR209 million (+18%).
The EU’s exports to China decreased by 9% (-EUR689 million) in the period from January to June 2024 compared to 2023.
This is mainly due to a decline in several major products exported from the EU to China, including pork, dairy products, and cereals.
