Following the update of the trade agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, Ukrainian farmers have gained both additional advantages and new challenges. Experts from the Ukrainian Agrarian Council note that the revised quotas for agricultural product exports to the EU have become stricter compared to 2024, yet they remain more favorable than those that were in place before the large-scale invasion of the Russian Federation.
This is reported by Finway
New Export Quotas and the Advantages of the “Trade Visa-Free” Regime
In particular, the quota for sugar exports to EU countries has been increased from 20,000 tons to 100,000 tons per year. Thanks to the introduction of the trade visa-free regime in 2022, Ukrainian producers have managed to boost exports to the European Union, especially of value-added products. This has opened up additional opportunities for the country to develop and diversify its markets.
Restrictions on Grain Exports and the Search for New Markets
At the same time, the volumes of exports for certain crops, particularly grains, have been reduced. For instance, wheat exports to the EU will decrease from 4 million tons to 1.3-1.5 million tons per year. In this regard, analysts predict that Ukraine will actively develop trade relations with countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, which remain traditional partners and have a stable demand for Ukrainian agricultural products.
“Experts from the Ukrainian Agrarian Council believe that domestic farmers have gained both new opportunities and certain restrictions following the update of trade conditions between Ukraine and the EU. The agreed quotas are stricter compared to 2024, but still better than in 2021. In particular, the quota for sugar exports has increased from 20,000 tons to 100,000 tons per year.”
It is worth noting that exports outside the EU will be somewhat more expensive due to logistics costs. However, global demand for Ukrainian products remains high, allowing farmers to seek new opportunities to expand their influence in international markets.