One of the leading honey producers, Beehive, which exported 9,000 tons of products last year, plans to supply only 5,000–6,000 tons to the European Union in 2025. The reason for the decrease in volumes is the introduction of tariffs, which has made Ukrainian honey uncompetitive in price for European buyers. Instead, consumers are increasingly opting for cheaper honey from China, India, and Turkey.
This is reported by Finway
Impact of Tariffs on Ukrainian Honey Exports
According to the company, in 2024, the average monthly export of honey from Ukraine to EU countries decreased to 3,500 tons, while last year this figure was around 8,000 tons per month. Domestic exporters have been operating at the edge of profitability for several seasons due to high costs. The total cost of producing and delivering one kilogram of honey to the European consumer reaches $1.90, while the average selling price in Europe is $2–$2.10 per kilogram. Additionally, exports exceeding the established quota are subject to an additional tariff of 17.3%.
“All market players have felt the decline,” said Semen Haharіn, CEO of Beehive.
Ways to Overcome the Crisis
Beehive believes that the crisis can be overcome in several ways. The first approach is the consolidation of the market around strong producers, which will enhance the efficiency of the industry. The second direction is diversification, meaning the development of in-house packaging and the activation of sales in domestic Ukrainian supermarkets. The third strategy involves accelerating Euro-integration processes, which should ensure a permanent duty-free regime for Ukrainian products in the EU market. Despite the challenging conditions, Semen Haharіn does not rule out the possibility of further expanding production and is considering options for acquiring an additional factory.