This has never happened before in history: Ukraine sets a record for trade with the EU

2024 was the first year in history when agricultural trade between Ukraine and the European Union (EU) reached $17 billion. Most Ukrainian agricultural products were imported to Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, and other countries.

This was reported by the Institute of Agrarian Economics. Deputy Director of the National Research Center Mykola Puhachov noted that the positive balance of trade in agricultural products with the EU amounted to about $9 billion.

Eight countries accounted for 80% of the total turnover of agri-food products. The main European trading partners last year were:

• Spain;
• Poland;
• The Netherlands;
• Germany;
• Italy;
• Romania;
• France;
• Belgium.

At the same time, last year Ukraine imported agricultural products from the EU for a total of USD 4 billion (9% more than in 2023). What was bought most of all:

• beverages – $484 mln;
• food products, extracts, and concentrates – $405 million;
• tobacco products – $385 mln;
• animal feed, residues, and waste – $356 million;
• Cocoa and chocolate products – $289 mln;
• dairy products – $277 million (including cheese – by $225 million);
• finished grain products – $258 million.

In total, these product groups accounted for 61% of all food imports from the EU. Thus, the EU has retained its leading position among suppliers of agri-food products to Ukraine. Thanks to stable supplies from the EU member states the domestic market is provided with a variety of goods.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the volume of dairy imports to Ukraine has reached a record over the past three years. This is happening against the backdrop of rising prices for raw milk throughout the second half of 2024 – from June to December, the price of extra virgin milk increased by almost 45% and exceeded UAH 20 per 1 kg. As a result, domestic products rose sharply in price and the flow of imported goods increased. Exports of dairy products also fell sharply, from $20 million in November to $16 million in December.

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