Ukrainian apple exports fell by a third: main factors
8 March 01:14
Between July 2025 and January 2026, Ukraine exported 11,700 tons of apples to foreign markets. The total value of exported products amounted to approximately $7 million.
This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to AgroTimes.
According to Vladimir Gurzhiy, head of USPA Fruit, no breakthrough in exports is expected this season. There is currently a risk of not reaching the figures of the previous marketing year, when the country exported 16,800 tons of fruit.
Reasons for the decline in exports
The main factors behind the decline in volumes were unfavorable weather conditions and an acute labor shortage in the agricultural sector.
Due to the lack of personnel, part of the harvest could not be gathered at the optimal time, which negatively affected the quality of the fruit. As a result, a significant portion of the apples that could have been sold fresh on foreign markets was sent for industrial processing.
“Some of the apples were not harvested at the optimal time and were subsequently sent for processing, which reduced export potential and the supply of high-quality fresh apples,” Gurzhiy notes.
High domestic prices also make exports less attractive, and the trend toward a decline in the share of fresh exports continues.
Key markets
The main destinations for Ukrainian apples remain the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan.
Turkey plays an important role, as it is through Turkey that products are re-exported to Iraq and Central Asian countries.
There is also stable demand from Sweden and, to some extent, Malaysia. Despite well-established sales channels, competition in these markets is intensifying due to internal factors in Ukraine.
