Soybean acreage in 2026 reached 2.1 million hectares, an increase of 5% compared to last year, Taras Vysotsky, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, told reporters on the sidelines of the Grain Ukraine 2026 international conference on Friday.
“This year, soybean acreage did not decrease; in fact, it increased by 5%. Several factors contributed to this simultaneously—the rising cost of fertilizers and fuel. Consequently, farmers have shifted their focus to crops that require fewer fertilizers, namely soybeans. It requires lower costs for cultivation, transportation, and export,” Vysotsky noted.
As reported, pursuant to Law No. 4536-IX of July 16, 2025, a 10% export duty on rapeseed and soybeans was introduced in Ukraine effective September 4, 2025. The document provides for a gradual reduction of the rate by 1% annually, starting January 1, 2030, to 5% by 2035. At the same time, the law includes a preferential regime for direct producers and cooperatives, who are exempt from paying the duty when exporting their own-grown products.
Experts from the American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) have argued that this could lead to a significant reduction in soybean acreage in 2026 due to this law.
According to the Ministry of Economy, as of June 2, 1.96 million hectares had been planted with soybeans, or 96% of the forecast, whereas last year, as of May 30, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, soybean plantings totaled 2.23 million hectares.
agricultural sector, export duty, MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, planting season, SOYBEANS
UKRNAFTA, Ukraine’s largest network of gas stations, doubled its fuel purchases in 2026 compared to last year to ensure stability for farmers during the planting season, the company’s CEO Bohdan Kukura told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
“We have received the first shipments of diesel from the United States. The government’s task was to ensure (the domestic market – IF-U) that there would be no shortage. We are fulfilling this: given the season and increased demand, we have purchased twice as much fuel as before. There will be no shortage. We are fully contracted, and we do not foresee any problems at all for April,” the company’s head emphasized.
According to him, in response to the government’s request, UKRNAFTA began using post-import financing instruments for the first time in its history. The first shipments of American fuel were purchased using credit lines from the state-owned Ukrgasbank and Oschadbank. The top manager noted that this mechanism has been in operation for only about a month but has already proven effective in ensuring energy security.
The CEO also explained that, given market volatility, UKRNAFTA has abandoned fixed-price contracts, as they are unprofitable for suppliers due to the inability to predict risks. Currently, work with clients is based exclusively on a “contract formula” tied to global Platts or Argus price indices.
Separately, Kukura commented on the sales structure: the share of retail customers (B2C) is about 50–70%, while the corporate segment (B2B cards and vouchers) accounts for 30–50%. He noted that farmers typically purchase fuel through small-scale wholesalers.
As the chairman of the UKRNAFTA board assured, thanks to strategic reserves and new logistics, there is no cause for panic. The company continues to actively work with banks, creating “effective solutions to supply the market,” so Ukrainian businesses can be confident in the availability of fuel at gas stations.
As reported, by the end of 2025, UKRNAFTA increased fuel sales in the B2B segment to 391.6 million liters, which is 61.7% more than the previous year’s figure and nearly eight times higher than the 2023 result. The number of active corporate clients during this period tripled—to 9,700 companies. Over three years, the company doubled the average daily fuel sales per gas station, and the average receipt at the network’s stores tripled—to 180 UAH.
UKRNAFTA is one of the largest gas station networks in Ukraine, comprising approximately 700 locations and ranking among the top three in terms of fuel sales volume. The network structure includes the assets of Glusko (85 gas stations) and Shell (118 gas stations). Additionally, 21 complexes of Ukrgazvydobuvannya (U.Go) operate under the UKRNAFTA brand on a franchise basis.
Farmers currently have sufficient fuel reserves for the planting season, enough to cover their needs for three to six weeks, said Oleksiy Sobolev, Ukraine’s Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture.
“Regarding the planting season. We now know that both diesel and fuel are secured for the planting season. We have consulted with the market—fuel reserves are sufficient for three to six weeks,” he said during “Government Hour” in the Verkhovna Rada on Friday, according to a correspondent for the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
“We will continue to monitor the situation,” the minister added.
As reported, some experts suggested that problems with oil and petroleum product supplies to the market caused by the war between Israel and the U.S. against Iran could lead not only to a significant increase in the price of petroleum products but also to shortages in certain segments, primarily diesel fuel.
