Geneva: Ukraine is set to cut its sugar beet sowing area by 17% this year, leading to a significant drop in sugar production and an even sharper decline in exports, particularly to the European Union, according to the head of the country’s sugar union, reported Business Recorder.
Speaking at the S&P Global sugar conference in Geneva, Yana Kavushevska said Ukrainian farmers are expected to plant around 210,000 hectares of sugar beet in 2025. Earlier projections had been higher, with Kavushevska estimating 230,000 hectares in February and Ukraine’s first deputy farm minister Taras Vysotskiy forecasting 250,000 hectares in March.
“The main issue has been the weather. We had a very dry winter, and because of that, many farmers have decided to switch to safer crops like sunflowers and corn,” Kavushevska said.
As a result, Ukraine’s sugar production is expected to fall to 1.5 million tons this year, down from 1.8 million tons last year. Exports are forecast to shrink to 180,511 tons, compared with 746,000 tons in 2024.
Exports to the European Union will see a major cut. Ukraine plans to send just 23% of its total sugar exports — about 27,258 tons — to the EU this year, compared to 40% or 298,400 tons last year.
The European Commission is moving to limit Ukrainian sugar imports after EU producers raised concerns that large inflows from Ukraine have driven down domestic sugar prices.
Initially, Brussels had granted Ukraine free access to EU agricultural markets to support the country following Russia’s 2022 invasion. However, in response to mounting protests from European farmers, the EU has begun scaling back that support.
