The Food and beverage sector is one of the backbone industries not only for the agricultural and industrial complex, but for the entiry economy of Ukraine. It comprises more than 20 industries making both ready-to-eat and semi-finished products. The key industries of the food and drinks sector in Ukraine include the production of sugar, meat, milk, oils and fats, canned fruit and vegetables, confectionery, spirits, wines and salt.

Historically known as the «bread basket of Europe», Ukraine is set to become the «food basket» of the world. Ukraine is naturally endowed with 33% of the world’s black soil and a favourable climate that permits a broad range of agricultural production based on sustainable practices.

With its proximity to key markets, a well-developed regulatory environment, readily available financing and openness to innovation, Ukraine is becoming a powerhouse of agriculture exports.

Cereals and oils

Ukraine maintains leading positions in the production and export of cereal grains. After meeting its domestic needs, Ukraine can export approximately 50 million tonnes of cereal grains annually. Ukraine's grain exports in 2024 amounted to $9.4 billion (+13% compared to 2023).

One of the world’s leading wheat exporters, Ukraine exported 53,9 million tonnes of wheat in 2024 (+20% compared to 2023). The production of grain and leguminous crops is expected to increase to 60 million tons, which will exceed last year's figures by 7.6%.

Oilseeds retain the status of the most popular crop for Ukrainian farmers because they typically offer good profitability. In 2024, Ukraine increased oilseed exports to $5.7 billion (+2% compared to 2023). The most popular oilseeds are sunflower, rapeseed and soya beans. Yields are growing for all oilseeds due to a combination of improved seeds, agrochemicals, machinery, the growing skills of local agronomists and more favourable growing conditions (especially for rapeseed). The main export destinations for Ukrainian oilseeds are the EU, India, Turkey, China and Egypt.

Honey

The Ukrainian honey sector is growing steadily, both in terms of production and exports. Honey made in Ukraine has a positive image on the global market. Currently, honey producers are looking for new export opportunities.

Ukraine is the world’s 5th biggest honey exporter.
Ukrainian honey producers export their products to more than 40 countries of the world.
The Ukrainian honey sector includes more than 300 large, medium-sized and small producers.

Ukraine has been among the top ten producers in the world honey market for many years. Exports from the country have been growing rapidly over the past few seasons. Ukraine's honey exports in 2024 amounted to $166,1 million.

The biggest importers of honey from Ukraine in 2024 were: Germany (22%), the USA (15%), Poland (11%) and France (11%). Also in 2024 Ukraine was the biggest exporter of honey to the European Union.

Stakeholders

The Ukrainian Food Association (U-Food) is a non-governmental institution that represents 83 food and drink producers. As part of its activities, the U-Food Association provides its members with analytical information and advises on foreign trade conditions and opportunities. U-Food set up the Ukrainian Food Platform and organises the Ukrainian Food Expo.
The Union of Beekeepers of Ukraine is a public association that represents the interests of beekeepers. It provides up-to-date information for beekeepers, organises conferences and monitors other activities by non-profit organisations.

Nuts

Ukraine ranks 7th in terms of walnut production in the world.
The average annual walnut production is over 87.2 thousand tons.
In 2024 Ukraine exported almost $90,6 million of walnuts.
The total area of nut plantations has increased by more than 100% over the last five years.

Every year Ukraine exports more than 30,000 tonnes of walnuts, making it Europe’s largest exporter. The EU, the Middle East and Central Asia are the main buyers of Ukrainian walnuts. Main foreign buyers of Ukrainian walnuts come from France (15,5% of all Ukrainian exports), Romania (12,1%) and Greece (9,5%) in 2024.

Most of the walnuts produced in Ukraine are grown by small, privately run family farms that harvest trees growing on their land or near their farms. This category of producer does not typically use fertilisers or agrochemicals and relies on manual labour to harvest and shell the walnuts. After harvesting, walnuts are usually sold to intermediaries, who combine them into large batches for export.

Ukrainian farmers have been developing walnut orchards for commercial purposes since 2009. The average size of these plantations ranges from 20 ha to 50 ha. Before the full-scale invasion, over 10 million walnut trees grew in Ukraine.

The latest data confirms this growth trend in commercial walnut production. Farmers are investing in the development of high-yield commercial orchards consisting of multiple walnut varieties, installing irrigation systems and using fertilisers. Certain commercial growers have already planted as many as 500-600 ha of walnut orchards.

In the coming years Ukrainian plantations will offer hazelnuts and almonds for foreign buyers.

Industry experts predict that by 2030 the area under nuts will increase from 13.1 thousand hectares in 2022 to 30 thousand hectares: 9 thousand hectares - walnut plantations, 16 thousand hectares - hazelnuts, 5 thousand hectares - almonds. According to forecasts, 20% of Ukraine's walnut orchards will be organic by 2030.

Stakeholders

The Ukrainian Nut Association represents 136 members and more than 2,000 associate members from all regions of Ukraine, including nurseries (seedlings for nut-bearing crops), industrial gardens, nut processing companies and exporters.

Fruits and berries

Ukraine is the third-largest raspberry exporter in Europe.
Ukraine is one of the world leaders in expanding areas of blueberries.
1 million tonnes of apples are harvested every year in Ukraine.

Ukraine is among the fastest-growing producers and exporters of berries in the world. According to the results of 2023, exports of frozen fruits and berries reached 87 thousand tons (in monetary terms $132 million). The main products of these were frozen raspberries (about 46 thousand tons), blueberries (27 thousand tons), blackberries and mulberries (3 thousand tons), strawberries and wild strawberries (3 thousand tons).

Ukraine continues to actively catch up with world leaders in frozen raspberry exports in the 2024/25 season. The main markets for Ukrainian raspberries at the beginning of the season include Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Austria, Belgium and Italy. Also, in the new season, the first batches of Ukrainian frozen raspberries have already been shipped to such important and promising markets as the USA and Canada.

Ukrainian companies are investing in the processing of fruits and berries, including sublimation (freeze-drying) and the production of fruit chips, juices, jams and other products. These products have a long shelf life and maximum vitamin potential and are easily transported.

Gross apple production in 2023 increased and amounted to almost 1,173 thousand tons, or +4% (1,129 thousand tons in the previous year). The area under apple trees in Ukraine is 75.6 thousand hectares in 2024.

From July 2023 to June 2024, Ukraine exported about 47 thousand tons of apples, which is 11 thousand tons more than for the 2022/23 season. Also Ukraine is one of the five largest European suppliers of apple concentrate.

Stakeholders

Ukrsadvinprom (Association of Gardeners, Grape Growers and Winemakers of Ukraine) represents around 200 producers of fruit, berries, nuts and grapes, as well as fruit and berry processing companies, wine producers and various scientific institutions involved in developing new production techniques.
The Ukrainian Berry Association represents professional stakeholders in the fruit and berry market, including growers, processing companies, suppliers (planting material, plant protection products, equipment and technical resources), cooperatives, public organisations, educational institutions and other sector representatives.

Vegetables

Exports of fresh and processed vegetables are growing rapidly. Foreign buyers appreciate the fact that Ukrainian farmers grow high quality cucumber and tomatoes without any crop protection substances.

Ukraine is also the leading producer of tomato paste and an active competitor in the European market. Export of processed and canned tomatoes is also growing. In 2024, Ukraine exported $33.2 million of processed and canned tomatoes. Processed tomatoes are in great demand in the European Union, including Poland, Germany and Romania. Demanding Japanese buyers are also importing from Ukraine.

In 2023, Ukraine grew 21.4 million tons of potatoes. Thanks to its non-GMO potato crops, Ukraine is well placed to develop a strong position in the potato flour and starch market and to increase its potato exports to the EU.

Garlic from Ukraine is famed for its local varieties and unique taste. Ukrainian garlic is preferred by many European processors, and local production is growing to meet the demand. Commercial garlic production has tripled over the past five years and is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade.

The export of legumes is becoming promising. Thus, in 2024, the export of legumes amounted to 138.5 million (+61,4% compared to the previous year).

Confectionery

Exports of confectionery products in 2024 amounted to 747.2 million (+27,2% compared to the previous year). Most confectionery products are supplied to Romania, Poland, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Azerbaijan.
The average annual growth rate of exports from Ukraine is 7.3% over the last 5 years.
Three Ukrainian confectionery manufacturers are members of the global Top 100 candy companies ranking.

Ukraine is probably the most competitive producer of sweets in the world due to its very efficient large-scale domestic production of almost all the key raw materials for confectionery: sugar, honey, wheat flour, milk powder and vegetable oils and fats. All these products are of exceptional quality and have been approved for export to the EU market.

Ukraine uses beet sugar in its confectionery products. Unlike cane sugar, beet sugar contains no starch and dissolves more quickly. This means that consumers experience the sweetness and the taste faster. According to experts, beet sugar has a slightly different aroma, taste and aftertaste.

Each of Ukraine’s large and medium-sized confectionery firms generally produces 400-600 SKU spanning all confectionery groups. Ukraine has access to deep water ports in the Black Sea and can ship goods nearly anywhere very competitively.

Ukrainian confectionery firms have implemented various integrated quality and food safety management systems including ISO 9001, ISO 22000, IFS, FSSC 22000 and BRC.

Thanks to modern equipment and improved technology, Ukrainian confectionery products comply with all quality and safety requirements and have a long shelf life.

Ukrainian confectionery products are not only of the highest quality but also very competitive on price due to lower input costs for energy, labour and land.

Stakeholder

UKRKONDPROM is the industry association of producers of confectionery, food concentrates, starch products and coffee in Ukraine. The association consists of 30 participants which provide about 70% confectionery, 55% food concentrates and 90% starch production in the total volume of industry in Ukraine.

Dairy

In 2024, Ukraine exported 117.73 thousand tons of dairy products worth $295 million. Compared to 2023, export volumes in physical terms increased by 8%, and in monetary terms - by 14%.
Ukraine increased export revenue across all product lines, including non-condensed milk and cream (+6%), condensed milk and cream (+8%), buttermilk (+29%), whey (+19%), butter (+15%), cheese (+26%), ice cream (+21%), and casein (+3%) in 2024.
Most dairy products are supplied to Moldova, Poland, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria and Germany.

Ukraine’s dairy exports are growing every year, creating more opportunities for producers. Dairy producers in Ukraine are expanding their activities in the soft and semi-soft cheese markets. Thanks to deep processing technologies, they are able to produce demineralised whey, which is used in the production of baby food and confectionery.

51 dairy producers are licensed to export goods to the European Union. 35 Ukrainian milk producers have been certified to export their goods to Saudi Arabia. Ukraine has requested licences to export dairy products to Japan, Argentina and 19 more countries.

Stakeholders

The Ukrainian Food Association (U-Food) is a non-governmental institution that represents 83 food and drink producers. As part of its activities, the U-Food Association provides its members with analytical information and advises on foreign trade conditions and opportunities. U-Food set up the Ukrainian Food Platform and organises the Ukrainian Food Expo.
The Association of Milk Producers (AMP) is a non-profit, non-governmental association of specialist dairy farms. It was officially registered on 30 April 2009. Since then, it has grown to ten times its original size and in 2020 represented 150 farms (with an average herd size of 400 cows) from all over Ukraine.
The Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine (UA Dairy) represents its members in dealings with legislative and executive bodies at different levels. It also coordinates the dairy sector’s activities with those of other sectors and campaigns for the elimination of differences in the interests of its members. Finally, UA Dairy is involved in measures to improve the regulatory framework for the processing, sale and production of milk and dairy products.

Meat

Pork, beef and chicken producers are the main stakeholders in Ukraine’s meat sector. The sector is growing, and manufacturers are increasing their exports and breaking into new markets. Innovative methods and new technologies are being introduced at most production facilities.

Ukraine mainly exports fresh, chilled or frozen beef, pork and poultry.
Ukraine exported 448,8 thousand tons of meat and edible poultry offal in 2024, which is 5,7% more than in the previous year. The total amount of exports amounted to $962,7 million, which is 20,4% higher than in 2023.
Ukrainian meat producers export their products to 113 countries. The main importers of meat from Ukraine in 2024 were the Netherlands (23,2%), Saudi Arabia (16,1%), and Slovakia (8,5%).
The Ukrainian meat sector includes 3,452 large, medium-sized and small companies involved in the production, processing and preserving of meat and meat products.

The Ukrainian meat processing industry is developing rapidly. Producers are introducing new technologies and striving to adapt their production facilities to meet global market demand. Some manufacturers are adopting vertically integrated business models.

Ukraine’s meat sector covers the full cycle of meat production, allowing producers to reduce costs.

Ukrainian meat producers have built up considerable export experience. Manufacturers supply their products to distributors, other production facilities, the HoReCa sector (food service and hotels) and retail segments in Ukraine and other countries.

Stakeholders

The Ukrainian Food Association (U-Food) is a non-governmental institution that represents 83 food and drink producers. As part of its activities, the U-Food Association provides its members with analytical information and advises on foreign trade conditions and opportunities. U-Food set up the Ukrainian Food Platform and organises the Ukrainian Food Expo.
The Association of Pig Producers of Ukraine represents and protects the rights and interests of its members in the pig farming sector. It promotes the development and application of new technologies for the most efficient use of production capacity and works to expand markets and in particular to protect the domestic market.
The Meat Industry Association of Ukraine represents and protects the common interests of its members. It promotes the development of meat and meat-related markets through measures designed to make domestic produce more competitive, improve product quality, expand markets and protect the local market.

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