Ukraine is making significant strides to expand its agricultural export capabilities, with negotiations underway with China to supply various products including poultry meat, beef, fish, flour, and pet food. This announcement was made by Serhiy Tkachuk, the head of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, during an interview with Ukrinform.
The discussions with China are part of Ukraine's broader strategy to open new markets for its agricultural products. Tkachuk noted, "Therefore, we are focusing our main efforts on these regions," emphasizing the shift toward not just China but also countries in Africa and the Middle East. This redirection is particularly relevant due to existing quotas on specific products within the European Union, compelling Ukrainian producers to seek alternative markets.
Currently, Ukraine has the right to export agricultural products to 364 different destinations worldwide. Looking toward the future, the Ukrainian government has set ambitious goals for 2024, aiming to establish more markets than it did the previous year. "This year, we have set ourselves the ambitious goal of opening no less, and potentially more, markets than we did last year," Tkachuk commented.
A key priority for the government is to facilitate access to the UK market for Ukrainian beef exports, necessitating an audit of the control system to meet the required standards.
Significantly, Ukraine and China signed an agreement in March 2025, which outlines the export conditions for Ukrainian aquatic products from wild fishing as well as farmed fish. This agreement marks another step toward deepening agricultural ties between the two nations.
Ukraine's agricultural exports reached $24.5 billion in 2024, accounting for 59% of the country's total exports. This figure is noteworthy, but the record high was set back in 2021, when agricultural exports hit $27.7 billion. The 2024 numbers are indicative of both recovery post-pandemic and strategic efforts to diversify export markets.
Ukrainian agricultural producers also gained access to foreign markets for 16 groups of goods across nine different countries last year. Encouragingly, China has recently opened its market for Ukrainian honey, adding yet another avenue for export growth.
Overall, the Ukrainian government's initiatives signal a strong commitment to bolstering the nation's agricultural sector and enhancing trade partnerships. The focus on new markets and removing trade barriers is seen as integral to the country's economic recovery and sustainability.
The future looks bright for Ukraine’s agricultural exporters as they work diligently to meet the demands of global markets. With continuous negotiations and government support, Ukrainian producers are poised to expand and thrive, contributing to their economy significantly.