One Ukrainian hectare saves 18 people in the world from hunger. And Ukraine’s potential is even greater
31 January 2025 13:21
“400 million people around the world depend on Ukrainian food. And by unlocking the Ukrainian potential, this figure can be increased to 600 million.” Such a vision of the prospects for the development of the agricultural sector was formulated by the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Vitaliy Koval in his speech at the Ukrainian Grain Conference, reports
He reminded that “thanks to Ukrainian agricultural producers and processors, last year was marked by several records.”
“Almost $24.7 billion was the revenue of the agricultural sector in 2024. This is the second highest figure in the history of Ukraine. Moreover, in a war year, farmers were able to provide 59% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. This is a sign of stability and support for the Ukrainian economy,” Vitaliy Koval emphasized.
The Minister also said that among the positive trends that were observed last year and which need to be continued in 2025 is the increase in the amount of added value of products. He reminded that the development of deep processing is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.
Another important area for the coming years, according to the Minister, is the restoration of livestock production.
“We need Ukrainian grain to be converted into feed, livestock, and produce more milk and meat. New markets are waiting for Ukrainian products. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy is actively working to open them,” the minister assured.
2024 fully confirmed the export potential of the industry
Even in times of war, domestic exporters continue to set records in terms of the volume of agricultural products supplied to foreign markets. Mykola Pugachev, Deputy Director of the National Research Center “Institute of Agrarian Economics”, Academician of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, points out.
According to the results of the calendar year 2024, the largest export volumes of frozen berries and other fruits in the history of Ukraine were again recorded – 104 thousand tons, which exceeded the record of 2023 by almost 20%, amounting to 87 thousand tons. In addition, the record of foreign sugar sales was updated – 750 thousand tons.
According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, in 2024, Ukraine exported agri-food products worth USD 24.84 billion. USD. And although last year’s figure is 11% less than the record of 2021 of 27.95 billion USD. It was the second highest since Ukraine’s independence, Mykola Pugachev emphasized.
According to the scientists of the Institute of Agrarian Economics, in 2024, revenues from Ukrainian food exports grew simultaneously in all major regional markets – the European Union, Asia and Africa.
In 2024, the volume of supplies of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU member states increased by 3% compared to 2023 and amounted to USD 13 billion. US DOLLARS. At the same time, the EU’s share in domestic exports of agricultural products amounted to 52.4% of all Ukrainian agricultural exports last year, Mykola Pugachev informed.
Last year, Asia, which in 2022 for the first time in more than 10 years lost its position as the main importer of domestic agricultural products, retained the second place with a share of 30.2%. Last year, the value of domestic exports to the countries of this region amounted to 7.5 billion USD. THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE COUNTRIES OF THE REGION AMOUNTED TO 7.5 BILLION US DOLLARS LAST YEAR.
Revenues from supplies to African countries in 2024 amounted to USD 2.6 billion. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. This provided the region with a share of 10.5% of Ukraine’s agricultural exports.
In general, these three regions buy more than 93% of Ukrainian agricultural products, the expert said.
Rating of the main consumers of Ukrainian food
The list of the largest buyers is headed by Spain. In 2023, the value of supplies from Ukraine to this country amounted to 1765 mln USD. In 2024, it increased by one and a half times to 2679 mln USD. THE VALUE OF SHIPMENTS FROM UKRAINE TO SPAIN INCREASED BY HALF – TO USD 1779 MILLION. The share of this country in domestic exports of agri-food amounted to 10.8% in 2024.
The Netherlands took the second place in the ranking. Having increased the volume of purchases of Ukrainian agricultural products from 1274 million USD in 2013 to 99,000 USD in 2014. USD in 2023 to 1799 million USD (41%). This European country secured a share of 7.2% (41%).
Turkey, having imported 1658 million USD worth of agricultural products from Ukraine, for the third year in a row will retain its share. For the third consecutive year, Turkey retained its third place in this ranking with a share of 6.7%.
Poland continued to reduce the value of purchases of agricultural products from Ukraine, reducing them by 15% to USD 1,523 mln compared to 2023. USD. Romania also significantly (-71%) reduced the volume of imports of Ukrainian agricultural products to USD 836 mln. THE MAIN CONSUMERS OF UKRAINIAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ARE ROMANIA.
The main consumers of domestic agricultural products were also:
Egypt (1408 million USD, 32 %),
Italy (USD 1,312 million, 26%),
China (1302 million USD, – 41%),
Germany (1272 million US dollars, 48%),
India (USD 848 million, 145%).
Last year, these ten countries accounted for 59% of foreign exchange earnings for domestic agri-food exporters.
The key products of domestic agricultural exports have traditionally been cereals, oils and fats, various oilseeds, residues of the food and processing industry, meat and offal, which were again supplemented by sugar and confectionery. According to Mr. Pugachev, these types of agricultural products accounted for 88% of the sector’s exports in monetary terms.
The terms of trade between Ukraine and the EU may change
In the middle of this year, the rules of the game for Ukraine in the European Union market may change, namely, the terms of preferential trade for Ukraine. This was reported by
