Duty-free honey, sugar, and eggs: what has changed in trade between Ukraine and the EU?
16 October 14:39
Ukraine and the European Union have reached a final agreement on updating the trade part of the Association Agreement. According to the agreement, the EU has significantly increased duty-free quotas for Ukrainian agricultural products, which opens up new opportunities for farmers and strengthens Ukraine’s position in the European market. This was reported by the association “Ukrainian Agribusiness Club”, "Komersant Ukrainian" informs
The agreement was signed on October 15, 2025, and provides for expanded access for key agricultural products that form the basis of Ukrainian exports.
Which goods received the largest duty-free quotas
Compared to 2021, the European Union has increased duty-free exports for the following goods
- honey – the quota increased by 483%, from 6,000 to 35,000 tons;
- white sugar – by 400%, from 20,000 to 100,000 tons;
- skimmed milk powder – by 208%, from 5,000 to 15,400 tons;
- eggs – by 200%, from 6,000 to 18,000 tons;
- poultry meat – by 33%, from 90,000 to 120,000 tons.
Significant growth is also observed in processed foods:
- bran and residues – the quota increased by 405%, from 21,000 to 85,000 tons
- barley groats and meal – by 423%, from 7,800 to 33,200 tons.
Full trade liberalization for some products
The updated agreement provides for the complete elimination of tariff quotas for a number of less sensitive products.
The following products will be exported duty-free:
- mushrooms,
- fermented and processed milk,
- cream,
- food preparations.
This means that Ukrainian producers of these products will be able to freely supply them to the EU without any volume restrictions.
New categories of quotas: an incentive for processing
An important change was the allocation of new quotas for value-added products.
In particular, wheat, barley, and corn flour will now be exported under separate duty-free quotas, whereas previously it was included in the general grain quotas.
This means that, in addition to 1.3 million tons of wheat, Ukrainian exporters will be able to supply an additional 30,000 tons of wheat flour to the EU duty-free.
This decision stimulates the processing of raw materials in Ukraine and increases the profitability of the agricultural sector.
Mutual concessions
The updated agreement takes into account the interests of both parties. Ukraine, for its part, will increase quotas for European goods, in particular
- pork – from 20,000 to 45,000 tons;
- poultry – from 20,000 to 120,000 tons;
- sugar – from 40,000 to 100,000 tons.
This will help deepen mutual trade and bring Ukraine closer to European common market standards.
Why it is important
Agricultural products account for about 60% of Ukraine’s total exports, and more than half of this volume is purchased by the European Union – worth about $15 billion annually.
Expanding quotas will allow Ukrainian producers to increase exports, develop processing, and attract new investments in the agricultural sector.
