Ukrainian pork is losing ground in foreign markets
23 March 16:21
Pork exports from Ukraine remain extremely limited—since the beginning of the year, the volume of shipments has not exceeded 100 tons. In 2025, Ukraine shipped 2,200 tons of pork to foreign markets, which is 30% less than the previous year.
This was reported by Oleksandra Bondarska, vice president of the Ukrainian Pig Farmers Association, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“Exports are happening, but it’s more of a trickle than a stream,” she noted.
Export Geography and Promising Markets
Currently, the key market is the United Arab Emirates, where Ukrainian pork is available in retail chains. Shipments to Georgia, Hong Kong, and South Korea have also been recorded. Work is ongoing with the latter two countries to coordinate veterinary certificates.
The list of potential destinations for export expansion includes countries in Asia and Africa, specifically Malaysia, Bahrain, Vietnam, Singapore, and India. At the same time, negotiations to open these markets are lengthy and complex, which significantly hinders export growth.
Preparation for verification
According to the ASU, a visit by European Union inspectors is expected in April 2026. The mission’s objective is to inspect Ukraine’s state control system, specifically:
- product safety and quality; the production traceability system;
- compliance of Ukrainian enterprises with EU regulations.
Successful completion of the inspection will open the EU market to heat-treated pork products. Although this does not involve raw meat, this step is of strategic importance for the industry.
“Any opening of the pork market for us is already a major step forward. By gaining access to the European market, Ukrainian pork will make its mark on the world: showing who we are, what we can do, and that we meet European quality and safety requirements. And this means we can be of interest to other countries as well,” noted the vice president of the ASU.
