The establishment of the first Ukrainian agri-hub in Ghana is a positive step toward expanding Ukraine’s presence in the African market, however, to establish a foothold in the region, Ukraine must engage international financial institutions as guarantors of security and transition from exporting raw materials to supplying value-added products, stated Leonid Kozachenko, President of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC).
“Africa is a complex region, but at the same time, it is the continent that suffers most from food shortages in the world. Ukraine produces five times more food than it consumes itself. Therefore, expanding our presence in the African market means both saving lives and opening up enormous economic prospects,” he said on Ukrainian Radio.
According to him, previous attempts by Ukrainian businesses to invest in production in Africa or to independently supply grain often resulted in financial losses and incidents of piracy due to political instability. To minimize such risks, Kozachenko proposes involving UN agencies, particularly the FAO, and global financial institutions that can act as intermediaries and guarantors of trade transactions.
Currently, Ukrainian goods account for less than 5% of total imports to African countries. To increase volumes, the expert advises drawing on the experience of Turkey and the UAE, which supply the continent not with raw materials but with finished products—flour, pasta, and grains.
According to Kozachenko, the state’s strategic goal should be to attract approximately $85–90 billion in investments over the next 10 years specifically for domestic processing. This would allow annual agricultural exports to increase from the current $27 billion to over $120 billion.
When assessing potential locations for a hub, the head of the UAC noted that West Africa is a challenging region due to internal conflicts. He considers North Africa, particularly Morocco, to be a more promising destination for logistics centers, as it has a more stable economy and opportunities for further distribution of products across the continent.
Ukraine will export 23.8 million tons of corn in the 2025-2026 marketing year (MY, July-June), which is 8.3% more than in the previous MY, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UACB) on Facebook.
According to the association, production volumes are gradually recovering after the occupation of part of the territory: the harvest will reach 29.9 million tons (+11.2% compared to last year), although this is 6.8% less than the average for the last five years.
Analysts explained the improvement in gross harvest by an 11.6% increase in acreage to 4.5 million hectares. At the same time, due to heavy autumn rains, the harvest was delayed, and the average yield was 6.6 t/ha, which is 0.3% less than in the previous marketing year.
The UAC noted that in the 2024/25 marketing year, corn exports decreased by 25.6% (to 22.0 million tons) due to lower production and a decrease in carryover stocks from 6.4 million tons to 3.7 million tons. Experts estimated total domestic consumption in 2025/26 MY at 6.2 million tons, of which 5.2 million tons will be used for feed, 182 thousand tons for seeds, and 418 thousand tons for non-food processing.
“The Ukrainian corn market remains flexible. Despite the loss of land due to temporary occupation and difficult weather conditions, farmers are managing to increase acreage and gross harvest. The crop meets domestic demand for animal feed and is returning to export growth, remaining one of the mainstays of Ukrainian exports,” the UCAAB concluded.
Wheat exports from Ukraine in the 2025-2026 marketing year (MY, July-June) are expected to reach 17.6 million tons, which is 11.5% more than in the previous season, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UAC).
The association estimates the gross harvest for the current season at 23.1 million tons, which is 2.9% more than in 2024/2025 MY.
According to analysts, the increase in production was made possible by the expansion of cultivated areas to 5.1 million hectares (by 4.8%), which offset the decline in average yield to 4.5 tons/hectare due to unfavorable weather conditions. At the same time, the current harvest is still 6.2% below the average for the last five years.
The UACB predicts that the increase in harvest will allow for an increase in shipments after a drop in exports in the previous season to 15.8 million tons. Experts cite the stable operation of Ukraine’s own sea route as the main factor in the recovery.
At the same time, domestic demand in Ukraine continues to decline due to the temporary occupation of territories and population migration. Total wheat consumption in 2025/2026 MY is forecast at 6.2 million tons, of which 3.7 million tons will be used for food, 1.5 million tons for feed, and 825,000 tons for seeds.
“The Ukrainian wheat market is demonstrating adaptability. Despite demographic challenges and weather conditions, farmers are managing to increase their acreage. Domestic needs are fully met, and the successful operation of export routes allows for the restoration of positive supply dynamics and guarantees Ukraine’s stable presence in key markets in Europe, Africa, and Asia,” the UCAAB concluded.
