Turkey became the largest buyer of Ukrainian soybeans in the 2025/2026 marketing year, importing 923 thousand tonnes. Ukraine exported 2.7 million tonnes in total, down from 3.8 million tonnes in the previous season, so the market is shrinking even as one buyer is expanding its purchases.
Market concentration remains visible
The next biggest importers were the Netherlands with 382 thousand tonnes, Germany with 298 thousand, France with 159 thousand and Egypt with 151 thousand. That means the sector still relies on a relatively small group of destinations, which makes it important to diversify long-term sales rather than depend on a few buyers.
Why volumes fell
The Ukrainian Grain Association says the decline was driven by a smaller harvest and the export duty on soybeans. For traders and processors, the result is a market that remains attractive but more sensitive to taxation, logistics and the ability to hold margins when global competition tightens.
The broader lesson for investors is that Ukraine’s soybean trade still has room to grow, but only if producers improve storage, quality, contracts and access to multiple export corridors.
