Ukraine increases sugar exports by 11% in 2025/26

Ukraine exported 646 thsd tons of sugar in the MY 2025/26, up 11% from 580 thsd tons in the previous season. According to Ukrtsukor, exports generated almost $300 mln in foreign currency revenue, despite low global prices, war-related risks and logistics challenges.

High export volumes were maintained partly by redirecting shipments to Central Asian markets amid restricted access to the EU. Uzbekistan became one of the largest buyers, accounting for 17% of Ukraine’s sugar exports, while Lebanon accounted for another 16%.

The EU accounted for 20% of Ukrainian sugar exports, up 3 percentage points from the previous season. Bulgaria received 55% of Ukraine’s total sugar shipments to the EU. However, the industry noted that export prices in most destinations effectively remained below production costs.

Low profitability has already affected the new season. Ukraine’s sugar beet area for the 2026 crop fell to 162 thsd ha, the lowest level since independence. Nevertheless, thanks to modern agricultural technologies, Ukrtsukor forecasts sugar production at around 1.2 mln tons in 2026/27.

This volume should be sufficient to cover domestic demand and provide an export potential of around 300 thsd tons. Its realization will depend primarily on logistics and access to the EU market. Ukrainian exporters could also benefit from changing global fundamentals, as an expected decline of around 3 mln tons in EU sugar production and weather risks in India and Thailand could support a recovery in sugar prices.

Tags: Ukraine, export, sugar