According to data from the State Customs Service, Ukraine exported 2,790 metric tons of live cattle in March 2026, which is 58% more than in February of this year and 12% higher than in March 2025, reported the Association of Milk Producers (AMP), citing data from the State Customs Service.
The industry association noted that revenue from livestock exports in March amounted to $5.26 million, which is 16% more than in February. In total, 5,530 tons of cattle worth $11.61 million were shipped to foreign markets in the first quarter of 2026. These figures are 6.1% and 10% higher, respectively, than the results for the same period last year.
A similar trend is observed in the meat segment. In particular, exports of fresh or chilled beef in March rose by 102% compared to the previous month, reaching 467.2 tons worth $3.69 million. Shipments of frozen beef increased by 31% to 1,670 tons, valued at $7.37 million.
“Ukraine has increased cattle exports amid high prices in export markets and a certain shortage of red meat globally. Low domestic purchase prices for raw milk served as an additional incentive for farmers, driving growth in sales of cattle for slaughter and export,” the UBA’s analytical department notes.
According to the association, the global beef shortage is being driven by high demand in the U.S. due to limited domestic supply ahead of the barbecue season. A similar situation exists in Brazil, where livestock prices have reached historic highs amid active exports to China. Australia is also reporting ten-year highs in production, attempting to compensate for the supply shortage in the Korean and Japanese markets.
At the same time, the negative price situation in Ukraine’s dairy market has led to a complete halt in the import of heifers: in March 2026, not a single head of breeding cattle was imported into the country.
Ukraine’s positive foreign trade balance in live cattle and beef trade amounted to $15.21 million as of the end of March.
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.
In its April report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) left its forecast for Ukraine’s corn harvest in the 2025–2026 marketing year (MY) unchanged at 30.7 million tons and exports at 22.0 million tons.
The estimate of Ukraine’s ending corn stocks also remained unchanged at 2.95 million tons.
Globally, the USDA raised its forecast for corn production in the 2025-2026 MY to 1,301.07 million tons, exports to 207.29 million tons, and ending stocks to 294.81 million tons. The agency attributes the adjustments in the corn segment in the April report mainly to South Africa, where harvest and export estimates have been raised, while figures for Argentina and Brazil remain unchanged.
In its April report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lowered its forecast for wheat exports from Ukraine in the 2025–2026 marketing year (MY) to 12.5 million tons from 13.5 million tons, a decrease of 1.0 million tons (7.4%). Meanwhile, the estimate for Ukraine’s wheat harvest remains unchanged at 24.0 million tons, while the forecast for ending stocks has been raised to 3.93 million tons, an increase of 0.8 million tons.
Globally, the USDA raised its forecast for wheat production in the 2025–2026 MY to 844.15 million tons, while the estimate for global exports was lowered to 221.88 million tons, and ending stocks could rise to 283.12 million tons. Among major exporters, the agency raised its harvest estimate for the EU to 145.11 million tons and for Russia to 90.3 million tons, while increasing its forecast for Russian exports to 44.5 million tons.
In March 2026, Ukraine exported 12,430 metric tons of dairy products worth $35.38 million, which is 25.1% more in volume than in February and 44% more in revenue, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP), citing data from the State Statistics Service.
As noted by the industry association, exports by volume increased by only 1% compared to March 2025, while revenue decreased by 7%.
In total, in the first quarter of 2026, the country exported 30,560 tons of dairy products (-2%) worth $81.46 million (-9%) to foreign markets. In March, the key products were condensed milk and cream (25% of exports), cheese (17%), butter (15%), and casein (15%).
ABM analysts attribute the increase in shipments in March to the war in the Middle East and the logistical collapse in Iran, which had been a major competitor to Ukraine in the markets of Iraq, the Persian Gulf countries, and Central Asia. Due to disruptions in Iranian exports, buyers began returning to Ukrainian suppliers, whose product prices are currently nearly identical.
In March 2026, compared to February, Ukraine increased exports of condensed milk to 3,600 tons (+20%), whey to 1,710 tons (+24%), cheese to 1,320 tons (+14%), and ice cream to 1,370 tons (+96%). However, shipments of non-condensed milk fell to 2,010 tons (-10%). Revenue from condensed milk rose to $8.92 million, and from cheese to $6.15 million.
“Increased supply of raw materials and weak domestic demand are forcing processors to expand more actively into foreign markets. Despite quotas, the EU’s share of export revenue reached 36%. In particular, Germany has become a strategic market for casein and fresh cheeses under private label, while Poland, in addition to importing into Ukraine, is actively purchasing our butter and dry whey,” the association noted.
Against the backdrop of rising exports, imports are intensifying pressure on the domestic market. In January–March, Ukraine imported 16,950 tons of dairy products (+10%) worth $83.18 million, with cheese accounting for 63%. Experts warned that the surplus of European cheeses being redirected from China poses a threat to domestic cheese producers and could lead to a drop in milk purchase prices in Ukraine.
The foreign trade balance in the first quarter of 2026 remained negative at -$1.72 million.
To stabilize the situation, the industry association is insisting on the introduction of state protective measures against uncontrolled imports from the EU.
On April 9, 2026, PJSC “Ukrhydroenergo” signed its first agreement since the launch of the “Electricity Import-Export” section on the Ukrainian Energy Exchange (UEEX), the company announced on its Telegram channel on Friday.
“It was Ukrhydroenergo that initiated the auction and sold electricity across the Ukraine-Moldova border,” the company noted.
As explained by the company, this agreement marks an important step in the development of exchange-based electricity trading and the expansion of the organized market’s capabilities. The agreement also has practical significance for the entire power system: a separate exchange section for import-export operations makes such transactions more predictable and transparent, allows for better system balancing amid fluctuating demand and generation, and opens up additional opportunities for attracting external resources or selling surplus electricity. As a result, the system gains greater flexibility, and the market gains clear rules of the game for all participants.
“For Ukrhydroenergo, this agreement is the result of the work of an entire team of specialists, as well as a strategic step toward developing a transparent, competitive electricity market integrated with European practices,” noted Bogdan Sukhetsky, Acting CEO of Ukrhydroenergo.
According to him, by initiating such mechanisms, the company is opening up new opportunities for efficient exports, increasing the liquidity of exchange trading, and strengthening energy cooperation with neighboring countries.
As reported, Ukraine reduced electricity imports by 25% in March compared to the previous month—to 942,100 MWh—and resumed electricity exports, which had last taken place on November 10, 2025. Export volumes in March totaled 30,200 MWh.
