Ukraine increases fresh beef exports 25-fold

Ukraine exported 3.04 thsd tons of fresh and chilled beef in January-August 2026, 25 times more than in the same period last year. Export revenue surged almost 34-fold to $24.36 mln, according to the Association of Milk Producers.

In August alone, exports of fresh and chilled beef reached 474 tons, up 38% from July and almost 25-fold year-on-year. Export revenue totaled $3.95 mln, rising 44% month-on-month and 37-fold compared with August 2025.

Frozen beef shipments also increased. Ukraine exported 1.82 thsd tons in August, up 8% from the previous month and 34.2% year-on-year. In January-August, frozen beef exports totaled 12.75 thsd tons worth $57.56 mln. Shipments increased by only 1% in volume terms, while revenue rose by 12%.

Lower global supply could provide further support for Ukrainian exports. Rabobank expects global beef production to decline by almost 2% in 2026, while supply could fall by 2–3%. Production is expected to decrease in the EU, the US, Brazil and China, while trade flows are also shifting due to declining cattle inventories and import restrictions in some markets.

Ukraine remains a net exporter of beef, with its trade surplus in the segment reaching $14.95 mln in August. In addition, the country exported 13.47 thsd tons of live cattle worth $32.31 mln in the first eight months of the year, up 5.9% and 14%, respectively, from the same period last year.

Tags: Ukraine, export, Beef cattle