Ukraine will exhaust the EU honey quota by the end of the week: what happens next
11 June 12:03
Ukraine, one of the world’s leading honey exporters, will fully exhaust the EU’s annual quota for duty-free honey exports by the end of this week, June 13, 2025. Vadym Pankovskyi, Commercial Director of Bartnik LLC and co-founder of the Association of Ukrainian Honey Exporters and Processors, told this in an interview with "Komersant Ukrainian".
Record exports in 2024: where did 85 thousand tons come from?
Ukraine ranks third in the world in honey exports, behind only China and India. Last year, the country exported a record 85 thousand tons of honey, despite the war, logistical difficulties, and restrictions from the EU.
As Pankovskyi explains, this volume does not reflect current production:
“The fact is that the 85 thousand tons of exports declared as an indicator of honey exports last year is not the gross harvest of the product. This is the amount of honey that beekeepers and farms have accumulated over the past three years. And it coincided that in 2024 this record amount left Ukraine. That is, this is not the harvest of 2023-2024, it is the harvest of 2022, 2023 and 2024.”
According to him, beekeepers hoped for higher prices, which led to the accumulation of so-called “carryover stocks”. These stocks formed the record exports in 2024. However, the war has had a significant impact on the industry:
“Therefore, I have to state that we have lost exports because of the war. For objective reasons. We are losing territories, so there are fewer farms and private producers that were located in these occupied territories. At the same time, there is no oversaturation of farms in the peaceful territories.”
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EU quota: 3.5 thousand tons of honey by June 13
Starting June 6, 2025, the EU has set a quota for duty-free exports of Ukrainian honey in the amount of 3.5 thousand tons by the end of the year. According to Pankovsky, this quota will be exhausted by June 13:
“According to our estimates, these 3.5 thousand tons will leave the country with documents by June 13. And the EU will report that we have already chosen the quota.”
After the quota is exhausted, Ukrainian honey will be subject to a 17.8% duty, which will significantly increase its price. Pankovskyi notes that this will make Ukrainian honey less competitive compared to products from Romania or Bulgaria, where prices will be comparable.
Will Ukrainian honey be rejected?
Despite the restrictions, Pankovsky is convinced that European importers will not refuse Ukrainian honey:
“However, to be fair, I can say that they will not refuse Ukrainian honey because it is present in many recipes. This is honey that is competitive in quality and price. If we add the 17.8% duty, we reach the average cost of honey in Romania and Bulgaria. That is, it will be a very painful blow for importers.”
Revision of the quota: no chance
Unfortunately, there is no possibility of revising or expanding the quota. Pankovsky explains:
“This is a final decision, and it will not be revised. Because our honey, the amount of it that is exported to the EU, is of great concern to European importers.”
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