The Odessa Journal reported that in the first five months of the 2024/25 marketing year, from September 2024 to January 2025, Ukraine exported more than 352,000 tons of sugar.
According to the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine, Ukrsugar, this represents a 17% increase compared to the same period in the previous marketing year.
The entire exported volume was directed to the global market, while in September 2023 – January 2024, only 9.5% of the export went to the global market.
“This increase in global exports shows that Ukrainian sugar producers have successfully found new markets after facing trade restrictions from the European Union,” Ukrsugar stated.
The primary destinations for Ukrainian sugar exports during this time included Turkey, which accounted for 19% of total exports, as well as Libya, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and North Macedonia.
Since January 1, 2025, Ukraine has regained the ability to export sugar to EU countries. Over the first five months of 2025, Ukraine is set to send 107,300 tons of sugar to the European market.
However, the European Union reintroduced tariffs on Ukrainian sugar and eggs starting July 2, 2024, after Ukrainian sugar exports exceeded the quota. Following this move, sugar exports from Ukraine declined significantly.
During the 2023-2024 marketing season, which ended on August 31, Ukraine exported nearly 692,000 tons of sugar—about 60% more than the previous year when a temporary export ban was in effect. At that time, 77% of Ukrainian sugar exports went to EU countries. On January 31, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food allocated Ukraine’s sugar export quota to the EU for 2025.
