According to the Ukrainian portal Delo.ua, Uzbekistan has become one of the largest foreign buyers of Ukrainian sugar based on the results of the first three quarters of the current marketing year. During this period, Ukraine exported 504,000 tons of sugar, with the Uzbek market accounting for 12% of all shipments.
According to information from Ukrtsukor, the main importers of Ukrainian sugar also include Lebanon (21%), European Union countries (18%), and Syria (14%). In total, about half of the exported product was sent to countries in the Middle East.
Experts note that the increase in shipments to Uzbekistan indicates the strengthening of the republic’s role as one of the key markets for Ukrainian sugar in Central Asia. The rise in demand is attributed, in particular, to changes in logistics routes and a reduction in sugar shipments from the United Arab Emirates to countries in the region.
At the same time, Uzbekistan remains one of the leading buyers of other Ukrainian agricultural products. According to data from the State Customs Service of Ukraine, in January–April 2026, the republic ranked second among importers of Ukrainian frozen beef. Uzbekistan accounted for 28.1% of total exports of this product, trailing only Azerbaijan (39.1%) and ahead of China (11.2%).
Ukraine exported 270,000 tons of sugar in the first half of the 2025-2026 marketing year (MY, September-February), according to the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine “Ukrtsukor” on its Telegram channel.
The industry association specified that Lebanon was the main destination for Ukrainian exports during this period, accounting for 29% of the total. Syria (17%) and European Union countries (14%) were also among the top three consumers.
In addition, significant volumes of Ukrainian sugar were shipped to North Macedonia (6%) and Mauritania (5%).
As reported, Ukraine ended the 2025 sugar season with 1.72 million tons of sugar. Despite a 23% reduction in acreage (to 199,000 hectares), production fell by only 4% thanks to a record yield of 58 tons/hectare and high sugar content of raw materials (17.6%). Sugar yield was 15.17%.
According to Yana Kavushevskaya, head of the Ukrtsukor association, the industry remains export-oriented, but supply directions are being adapted to EU quota conditions. Export potential for 2026 is estimated at 700,000 tons, while domestic consumption is expected to reach 900,000 tons.
The leaders in production last season were Radekhiv Sugar (32% of the market), Astarta (21%), and UkrProminvest-Agro (15%).
According to the association’s forecasts, in 2026, the area under sugar beet cultivation may decrease to 170,000 hectares, which will lead to a decrease in sugar production to 1.3 million tons.
The sugar beet processing season in Ukraine officially ended on February 1, 2026, with total sugar production in the country amounting to 1.72 million tons, according to the National Association of Sugar Producers “Ukrtsukor.”
According to the association’s data, the 26 factories that are members of the association produced 1.64 million tons of sugar. Taking into account one more enterprise operating outside the association, the total figure reached 1.72 million tons.
Despite a significant reduction in sugar beet acreage — by 50,000 hectares, or 23% compared to the previous year — sugar production fell by only 4%, or 80,000 tons.
Yana Kavushevska, head of the Ukrtsukor association, explained this dynamic by historically record yields and raw material quality.
“This is primarily due to an increase in sugar beet yields to a record 58 tons/ha for the industry, improved technological characteristics, in particular sugar content, which this year amounted to 17.6%, as well as operational improvements at factories. All these factors offset the impact of the reduction in acreage,” Kavushevska said.
According to the association, the average sugar yield for the industry in 2025 was 15.17%, which is almost 1 percentage point higher than in 2024.
The industry association also announced the top five sugar producers for the 2025 season, which included Radehivsky Sugar (32% of the total volume), Astarta (21%), UKRPROMINVEST-AGRO (15%), Teofipol Sugar Factory (6%), and ASPIK Group (5%).
As previously reported, Ukraine’s sugar industry remains export-oriented, with the European Union countries remaining the key market for Ukrainian producers within the established quotas.
The sugar factories of the agro-industrial company Ukrprominvest-Agro (UPI-Agro) have completed processing the 2025 sugar beet harvest, during which they processed 1.6 million tons of sugar beets and produced 226,000 tons of sugar, the agricultural holding’s press service reported on Facebook.
It is noted that 1.6 million tons of sugar beets for further processing at the Gaysinsky and Kryzhopilsky sugar factories were harvested from an area of more than 30,000 hectares, 50% of which belonged to the program’s partners.
In addition, 47,600 tons of syrup have been stored at the Gaysinsky sugar factory, which will allow for the additional production of 26,700 tons of sugar in the off-season.
The agricultural holding specified that 92% of the products produced in the 2025/2026 season meet the criteria of category I. The juice extraction season at the Gaysinsky sugar factory ended on January 16, and at the Kryzhopilsky factory on January 18.
UPI-Agro recalled that 27 sugar factories operated in Ukraine in the 2025/26 season. With an expected production of 1.8 million tons of sugar, UPI-Agro’s share of the market was about 14%, confirming the company’s position among the top three sugar producers in Ukraine.
The company emphasized that the season was marked by difficult weather conditions, shelling of energy infrastructure, and electricity shortages. Despite this, the factories demonstrated high operational efficiency. In particular, the Haisyn sugar factory showed the best results in Ukraine in terms of energy efficiency.
Ukrprominvest-Agro is engaged in the cultivation of agricultural crops, the production of sugar and flour, and meat and dairy farming. The group’s land bank exceeds 116,500 hectares. The agricultural holding is located mainly in regions that have not been invaded by Russian occupiers.
The group’s sugar business is represented by two sugar factories in the Vinnytsia region. The total elevator capacity for storing agricultural crops is 120,000 tons.
Ukrprominvest-Agro includes Agroprodinvest Group LLC, Podillya PJSC, Zorya Podillya LLC, Vinnytsia Bread Products Plant No. 2 LLC, Dniproagrolan AF, Ivanivtsi, Mas-Agro LLC, Pravoberezhne LLC, and Progress-NT LLC.
Since December 2019, the owner of the agricultural holding has been Oleksiy Poroshenko, the son of the former president of Ukraine.
Astarta, Ukraine’s largest sugar producer, reduced its sales volume by 27.4% in October-December 2025 compared to the same period in 2025, and its revenue by 19% due to a significant decline in wheat and sugar sales, which was not offset by revenue growth in the corn, sunflower, and soybean oil segments.
According to data published by the holding on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, in October-December 2025, the company sold a total of UAH 5.16 billion worth of its main products, compared to UAH 6.37 billion in the first half of 2024.
In particular, sugar sales in the fourth quarter of last year decreased by 20% in physical terms compared to the same period in 2024, to 85,265 thousand tons, while the average selling price decreased by 12%, to UAH 19,537 per ton.
Astarta’s wheat sales in the fourth quarter decreased by 81% to 29,683 thousand tons, and the average price decreased by 15% to UAH 8.58 thousand/ton.
Corn sales in the fourth quarter increased by 46% to 48,886 thousand tons amid a 1% decrease in price to UAH 9,328 per ton.
In addition, Astarta increased sales of sunflower seeds in October-December by 30% to 26,793 thousand tons, while the selling price rose by 18% to UAH 24.82 thousand/ton.
Rapeseed sales for the reporting period decreased by 2% to 17.74 thousand tons, while the cost of production increased by 11% to UAH 23.22 thousand/ton.
Soybean sales in the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased by 97% compared to the same period in 2024 to 23 tons, while the price of the product increased by 44% to UAH 39,126 per ton.
Sales of soybean oil in the fourth quarter increased by 20% to 15.619 thousand tons, and the price of the product also increased by 17% to UAH 48.083 thousand/ton. Sales of soybean meal increased by 42% to 60,875 thousand tons, while prices for it fell by 8% to UAH 15,716 per ton.
The agricultural holding’s milk sales in October-December 2025 increased by 10% to 31,017 thousand tons, while the price of the product decreased by 14% to UAH 19.25 thousand/ton.
Overall, Astarta showed mixed dynamics in October-December: a significant drop in sales of wheat (-81%) and sugar (-20%) was partially offset by an increase in sales of corn (+46%) and soybean products. Despite the overall decline in prices for grains and sugar, the soybean and oil segment showed growth in average sales prices (by 44% and 17%, respectively), which allowed the agricultural holding to balance its cash inflows.
Sales and average selling prices of Astarta’s key products in Q4 2025.
Data: Astarta
Sugar factories continue to operate in January 2026, but the top five leaders in production have already been determined, although the exact amount of their output cannot yet be announced in all cases, said Yana Kavushevska, head of the National Association of Sugar Producers “Ukrtsukor,” in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
The top three leaders in the industry remain stable from year to year: Radekhiv Sugar (535,000 tons produced, but one plant is still operating), Astarta (362,000 tons), and Ukrprominvest-Agro (242,000 tons as of January 10, but the plants are still operating), noted the chair of the board of Ukrtsukor.
According to her information, the Teofipol Sugar Plant (100,000 tons) took fourth place in the 2025 season, and A’SPIK Group (94,000 tons) took fifth place.
According to Ukrtsukor, 27 sugar plants were operating in Ukraine in the 2025 season. As of January 10, four factories continue processing. According to the industry association’s forecasts, the sugar production season will end on January 18-20.
