Record drop in imports and growth in exports of pork from Ukraine

In the period from January to October 2024, Ukraine significantly reduced the volume of pork imports, which indicates positive changes in the meat industry. At the same time, pork exports continue to grow, and have already reached 2.5 thousand tons, which exceeded the volume of imports (2.1 thousand tons) and brought foreign exchange earnings of 6 million US dollars. This situation is the result of the development of domestic production and the growing demand for Ukrainian pork on foreign markets.

According to the Association "Swine Farmers of Ukraine" (ASU), in 2024 the import of pork decreased significantly - by 5.5 times compared to the same period last year. This decrease shows that the domestic market of Ukraine is almost independent of imported pork, as its share is less than 1% of the total supply. Industry analysts predict that Ukraine may set a record low level of pork imports this year, which will be lower than the previous minimum of 2018 (5.2 thousand tons).

Against the background of a decrease in imports, the export of pork from Ukraine continues to show positive dynamics. During the specified period, Ukraine exported 2.5 thousand tons of pork, which brought 6 million dollars in foreign exchange earnings, exceeding import costs by 780 thousand dollars. This allows Ukraine to take the position of a net exporter of pork in 2024, albeit by a small margin.

The main consumer of Ukrainian pork remains the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where 75% of all exports go. The remaining products are exported to Bahrain, Malaysia, Liberia, Hong Kong and Angola, but in much smaller volumes. Thus, the geography of exports is limited, although the State Production and Consumer Service is actively negotiating the opening of new markets for Ukrainian pork, in particular with South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

For the further development of exports, it is important to maintain the competitiveness of Ukrainian pork, in particular thanks to the purchase prices per carcass. According to analysts, the average customs value of exported pork in 2024 was 2.45 US dollars per kilogram, which is lower than the customs value of imported pork (2.5 US dollars per kilogram). This allows Ukrainian manufacturers to maintain competitive advantages in foreign markets.

Summarizing, we can say that Ukrainian pork is becoming more and more popular on the international market. Although the country has not yet been able to significantly expand the geography of its export supplies, the trend of increasing exports and decreasing imports indicates positive changes in the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine.