According to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UAC), citing customs statistics, Ukraine imported 30,800 tons of pork in 2025, a 15-fold increase from the previous year.
“The sharp increase in imports was a natural market reaction to the shortage of domestic raw materials. The decline in livestock numbers and the escalation of hostilities in the east of the country forced many enterprises to close, leading to higher prices for Ukrainian pork. At the same time, the decline in meat prices on foreign markets during the summer made imported supplies more economically attractive for stabilizing domestic demand,” experts noted.
According to analysts, total pork production in the country in 2025 amounted to 606,000 tons, which is 10% less than in 2024 and 11% below the average for the past five years. Meanwhile, total domestic consumption needs are estimated at 648,000 tons.
The pig herd in Ukraine had shrunk to 4.5 million head by the end of 2025, a 12% decrease compared to 2024. The majority of the commercial herd (64%) is concentrated in specialized enterprises—2.9 million head—while 1.6 million head are kept on private farms.
“The industry continues to operate under extremely difficult conditions. In addition to military risks, producers are under pressure from rising production costs. Under these circumstances, the share of more price-competitive imports is growing, although current supply volumes are still 25% lower than in 2023,” the UACB emphasized.
Export destinations remain limited: in 2025, Ukraine supplied only 2,200 tons of meat to foreign markets (-26%). The main consumers are countries in the Middle East (48.1%) and Asia (23.6%). The combined share of shipments to African countries and Southeast Asian nations is approximately 17%.
As reported, agricultural sector experts predict that restoring the pig farming industry to pre-war levels will require not only stabilization of the security situation but also the implementation of government support programs to rebuild the industrial herd in de-occupied regions.
