According to Yana Kavushevska, head of the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine, nearly 90% of Ukraine’s sugar exports in the 2024/25 marketing year—about 500,000 tons—were shipped to this region. Leading importers include Turkey, Libya, Lebanon, Somalia, Jordan, and Cameroon.
“Our producers are ready to further expand the geography of exports and count on institutional support to achieve that,” Kavushevska noted during a recent meeting with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.
New Markets to Offset EU Limitations
Ukraine has faced export limitations to the EU due to quota restrictions, which has forced producers to look east and south. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have emerged as promising alternatives due to:
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Strong demand for high-quality food products,
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Existing trade routes via Black Sea and Mediterranean ports,
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Competitive pricing and supply reliability from Ukrainian producers.
Government Support for Agro-Export Growth
Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval emphasized Ukraine’s low current share in global agri-food trade—just 0.2%—as an opportunity for expansion:
“Our goal is to scale this experience, open new markets, form trade hubs and make exports systemic,” he said.
The Ministry is now working to:
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Facilitate market access in the MENA region,
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Establish regional logistics hubs for Ukrainian agricultural products,
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Promote brand recognition of Ukrainian sugar and other food exports.
Why It Matters
The diversification of sugar export markets could:
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Stabilize domestic production levels,
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Increase foreign exchange earnings,
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Support economic resilience amid ongoing war-related challenges.
Ukraine’s sugar industry, already self-sufficient, now has a clear opportunity to become a regional export leader, especially with MENA nations seeking stable and reliable partners to fill their growing food demand.
