Export demand and prices for peas in Ukraine are growing, but competition in new markets is intensifying

In March of this year, Ukraine officially received permission to export peas to China. Antonina Sklyarenko, President of the Community of Legume Producers and Consumers of Ukraine, said, “Negotiations with the Chinese side began back in 2019 and lasted five years. Now video inspections are being extended for the Chinese customs administration – we are recording materials in compliance with all requirements and must submit them for consideration by July 31. We will provide a list of Ukrainian exporters by August 10, and then we are waiting for approval. We really hope that Ukrainian peas will enter the Chinese market this year.”

The opening of the Chinese market and the removal of tariffs by India have increased export demand for Ukrainian yellow peas, so many companies have begun to buy them for export, which has increased competition and supported prices.

In the MY 2025/26, Ukraine will be able to export about 400 thousand tons of peas, which will correspond to the level of the last season.

Purchase prices for peas in Ukraine at the start of the 2025/26 season increased to $275-280/t or UAH 13,500-14,000/t with delivery to Black Sea ports, which corresponds to the maximum prices observed at the end of the last season.

China, which is one of the world’s largest importers of legumes, has sharply increased its purchases of peas from Russia after the introduction of a 100% tariff on Canadian peas on March 7.

According to Agroexport, in the first 5 months of 2025, China imported 333 thousand tons of peas from Russia, and 319 thousand tons from Canada. According to USDA estimates, in the MY 2024/25, China will import 1.5 million tons of peas.

Russia harvested about 4 million tons of peas in 2024, of which it exported about 2 million tons, with China and India being the main buyers. Canada has already exported 1.76 million tons of peas since the beginning of the season and the export forecast is about 2 million tons.

It will be difficult for Ukrainian peas to compete with Russian and Canadian peas on the Chinese market, so you should not count on a rapid increase in prices after the opening of the Chinese market for Ukrainian peas.