The Ukrainian flour milling company “DykankaMlyn” has completed the latest phase of its production modernization in partnership with the Swiss technology company Bühler, installing an automated system for micro-dosing ingredients into flour.
The new equipment allows for the automatic addition of dry gluten, vitamins, and other micro-components based on the actual flow of flour. This enables the company to produce products with specified characteristics and expands its capacity to fulfill export orders.
The system consists of flow scales, two micro-dosing units, and an integrated control system. The flow scales continuously measure the volume of flour, after which the automated system calculates the required amount of ingredients. The operator sets the desired addition percentage, and the subsequent dosing is adjusted automatically.
The equipment was installed without shutting down the mill. The mechanical work took about two to three days, while the electrical connection and commissioning took about a week.
“Our collaboration with Bühler began many years ago with roller sharpening and technical consulting. Then came the optical sorter, followed by two inline whiteness meters and an automatic moistening system. When the question of the next stage of modernization arose, we already had our own experience working with Bühler equipment and understood what results we expected,” noted Volodymyr Lenets, head of “DykankaMlyn.”
A unique feature of the project was that the Bühler equipment was integrated into an existing mill from another manufacturer. This approach allows the company to modernize individual process units in stages, without having to completely overhaul production, and to spread capital expenditures across several phases.
According to Andriy Sharan, CEO of Bühler Ukraine, the “DykankaMlyn” project demonstrates the ability to integrate modern technological solutions into existing production lines and gradually increase the company’s level of automation.
One of the practical applications of the new system will be adjusting the gluten content in flour to meet the requirements of specific customers. For the baking and confectionery industries, stable protein and gluten levels are key characteristics of raw materials, as they directly affect the dough’s processing properties.
Another area of application is the production of fortified flour with added vitamin and mineral complexes. Such products may be in demand in foreign markets, as in a number of countries, the fortification of flour with certain vitamins and minerals is mandated by national legislation or food program standards.
Automated dosing allows manufacturers to control the accuracy of ingredient addition and their uniform distribution in the finished product, which is important for confirming compliance with export requirements.
“Microdosing can solve a production challenge while also serving as a commercial tool. If a company can demonstrate the accuracy and uniformity of its product, this strengthens its position in negotiations with buyers and opens up more opportunities to operate in export markets,” Sharan noted.
“DykankaMlyn” specializes in the production of wheat flour and semolina. The company’s products are sold in Ukraine and exported. The production facility operates its own laboratory to monitor the quality of grain and finished products.
Bühler is a Swiss technology group and one of the world’s leading manufacturers of equipment and integrated solutions for the grain processing and food industries. In Ukraine, the company collaborates with flour mills, grain processing plants, and food manufacturers.
The price of food-grade wheat in Ukraine fell by $10 over the week—to $185 per metric ton on a CPT Odessa basis—while feed-grade wheat also dropped by $10, to $175 per metric ton, according to a weekly market review by the brokerage firm Spike Brokers.
“The global grain market ended the week with a further rise, but this trend did not carry over to Ukrainian basis prices,” the review noted.
Wheat exports from Ukraine during August 1–27 fell by half (-49.8%) compared to the same period last month—to 486,600 metric tons from 969,400 metric tons. The main destinations were Bangladesh—251,000 metric tons, Indonesia—243,500 metric tons, and Algeria—226,300 metric tons. These three countries accounted for about 74% of total exports of this product. Saudi Arabia and Yemen followed in terms of volume, with approximately 54,500 metric tons each.
The price of corn on a CPT Odessa basis fell by $5 to $185 per metric ton, while on an FCA Chop basis, it rose by $5 to $225 per metric ton.
Corn exports from August 1–27 totaled 190.7 thousand metric tons, which is 84.3% less than during the same period in July.
According to Spike Brokers, trading in next year’s corn crop is already active along the western border. During the week, October–December quotes on an FCA Zahony–Chop–Batyovo basis ranged from EUR188 to EUR191 per metric ton.
Brokers note that this trade route faces physical constraints on both sides of the border, particularly due to transshipment capacity in Ukraine and the EU, the availability of rail logistics, and the fleet of Euro-standard railcars.
The Public Union UkrSadVinProm has begun recruiting Ukrainian companies to participate in the international food industry exhibition SIAL Paris 2026, which will take place on 17–21 October at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre in France.
Ukrainian producers of food products and beverages, fruit, vegetables, berries, nuts, processed products, and other representatives of the agri-food sector are invited to participate.
According to the association, participation in SIAL Paris gives Ukrainian companies an opportunity to present their products to international importers, distributors, and retail chains, hold negotiations on future contracts, and expand the geography of their exports.
A separate area of work for the Ukrainian delegation will be familiarisation with global food industry trends, including new product and packaging formats, changes in consumer preferences, and technological innovations.
UkrSadVinProm notes that companies that participated in SIAL Paris together with the association in previous years gained new business contacts, expanded the geography of their exports, and established international partnerships.
The official organiser of SIAL Paris confirms that the exhibition in 2026 will be held from 17 to 21 October. Around 295,000 professionals from 205 countries are expected to participate. The organisers also report around 5,000 key buyers with a combined purchasing power of more than EUR60 billion. Following the previous exhibition in 2024, 88% of exhibitors reported concluding contracts with partners from countries that were new to them.
Participation in such exhibitions remains one of the channels for Ukrainian food products to enter new markets, especially for companies planning to work not only with local importers but also with international retail chains, the HoReCa sector, and major distributors.
To obtain information about the participation terms, UkrSadVinProm invites companies to contact it at info@ukrsadvinprom.com.
The Public Union UkrSadVinProm is the Association of Horticulturists, Grape Growers and Winemakers of Ukraine. According to the organisation, it brings together around 200 producers of fruit, berries, nuts, and grapes, processing and winemaking enterprises, as well as scientific institutions. The association works to develop exports, introduce modern production, storage, and transportation technologies, and implement the GlobalG.A.P., ISO, and HACCP international standards. Products made by members of the association are exported to various markets around the world.
SIAL Paris is held once every two years and is one of the largest international B2B exhibitions in the food industry. Its participants include food and beverage producers, importers, distributors, retail chains, HoReCa representatives, buyers, technology companies, and start-ups. The 2026 exhibition will take place at Paris Nord Villepinte and will be open only to a professional audience.
Due to problems with storing and exporting the harvest caused by the closure of Black Sea ports, there is a risk that the planted area for the upcoming harvest could be reduced by 5–7 million hectares, said Taras Vysotsky, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food.
“The biggest challenge today is compensating for interest rates on loans. If we do not support the financial stability of farmers, there is a risk that the area sown for the upcoming harvest will be reduced by 5–7 million hectares,” the Ministry of Agrarian Policy’s press service quoted Vysotsky as saying during his meeting with the UN System Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, and the leadership of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
The minister emphasized that Ukraine currently faces two key challenges: preventing the spoilage of the harvest that has already been gathered, ensuring storage capacity, and providing farmers with working capital.
“According to our estimates, the storage capacity deficit could reach 11 million metric tons as early as this fall, and the funding requirement for this area is $44 million,” he noted.
According to Vysotsky, Ukraine has sent an official request to the European Union for the allocation of EUR220 million to compensate for interest rates on bank loans for farmers.
Another important topic of the talks, he said, was the willingness of UN agencies to become more actively involved in resolving systemic problems caused by the war and overcoming its consequences, the statement noted.
UN representatives confirmed their readiness to respond promptly to Ukraine’s urgent requests, mobilize resources from the international community, expand operational assistance, and support Ukraine in overcoming humanitarian and economic challenges.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed on a joint action plan to attract additional donor funding from international financial institutions, including the World Bank, as well as private humanitarian foundations.
Blueberry yields in Ukraine during the 2026 season were low across nearly the entire country, with some farms reporting virtually no harvest of mid-season varieties, according to the president of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association (UPOA).
The main cause of the problems was spring frosts, which had the most severe impact on mid-season and late-season blueberry varieties.
“This year’s yield is really poor. And that’s the case almost throughout Ukraine,” said Bashtannik. According to him, in some areas, the yield of mid-season varieties was “absolutely zero.”
At the same time, the situation in the consumer market looks quite different: despite the yield problems, blueberries have become significantly cheaper at the height of the season. According to the UPOA chairman’s estimate, the farmgate price of the berries is about 100 UAH/kg, while the retail price is approximately 200 UAH/kg.
Bashtannik notes that blueberries are gradually ceasing to be a niche, expensive berry and are becoming a mass-market product for the Ukrainian market. The growth in domestic consumption is accompanied by an expansion of supply, although the most efficient producers continue to focus, in particular, on exports.
“Blueberries have become a ‘people’s’ berry because they are now abundant and consumers like them,” noted the president of the UPOA.
A labor shortage remains an additional constraint for the industry, especially during harvest time. According to Bashtannik, the labor shortage affects virtually all producers and has the potential to hinder the further expansion of the berry business.
Growing blueberries in containers and tunnels—which helps partially mitigate the impact of adverse weather—has not yet become widespread in Ukraine. The head of the UPOA considers this technology to be more of a niche practice due to the high cost of substrates, infrastructure, and additional production requirements.
Harvest problems are arising against the backdrop of a challenging situation with Ukrainian blueberry exports. According to data published on August 12 by the “Berry Farming of Ukraine” association, blueberry exports fell by nearly two-thirds in the 2025/26 marketing year—to 7,600 metric tons, compared to 24,400 metric tons in the previous season. Export revenue fell by 40%—to 44.5 million euros—despite an increase in the average export price to 5.85 euros per kg.
Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic remained the main foreign markets for Ukrainian blueberries.
Thus, the 2026 season has been mixed for Ukrainian blueberry producers: domestic demand is growing, and the berries are becoming more affordable for consumers; however, spring frosts sharply reduced yields for some varieties, the industry is facing a labor shortage, and export volumes remain significantly lower than in the previous season.
The Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association brings together producers, processors, and exporters of fruit and vegetable products and is engaged in developing the domestic market and promoting Ukrainian products in foreign markets.
The national postal operator, JSC “Ukrposhta,” has launched an integration with Etsy, one of the world’s largest marketplaces, which will allow customers to process international shipments without duplicating data, the company’s CEO, Ihor Smiliansky, announced on Wednesday.
“Starting today, Ukrposhta has launched integration with Etsy, where more than 1.7 million Ukrainian handmade goods, craft items, works of art, and vintage products are sold,” Smiliansky wrote on his Telegram channel.
According to him, Ukrainian sellers will be able to automatically import orders from Etsy, process international shipments without re-entering data, and automatically send tracking numbers once a shipment is created.
Among other features, the integration will allow sellers to print shipping labels directly from their personal account, pay for shipping online, take advantage of cumulative discounts on international shipments, and return shipments free of charge if they are undeliverable.
Users will be able to set up the integration in their Ukrposhta account by syncing it with their Etsy shop, which will then allow new orders to be imported automatically.
“After that, all that’s left is to process and pay for the shipment online, print the shipping label (or provide the tracking number at a post office), and hand the package over to Ukrposhta, which will deliver it to any of the 230 countries and territories around the world,” noted the CEO of the national postal operator.
Separately, Smiliansky clarified that the company is developing a program for VIP exporters, allowing them to send shipments from anywhere in a confidential manner and use a courier service.
As reported in late June, “Ukrposhta” signed an agreement with Etsy, thereby becoming its official partner.
Ukrposhta noted that the national postal operator will handle all customs duty payments (in the U.S. and the EU).
Etsy is an international marketplace specializing in the sale of handmade items, vintage goods, jewelry, and other products.
As previously reported, Ukrposhta posted a net profit of 296.7 million UAH for the second quarter of 2026, compared to a net loss of 108 million UAH in the same period of 2025.
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