Union can be called a “European integration” culture for Ukraine – opinion

The additional demand for soybeans for the European Union in MY 2024/25 is 33 mln tonnes. This was stated by Volodymyr Pugachev, the Executive Director of the Danube Soybean Association in Eastern Europe.

According to him, this situation makes the EU critically dependent on soybean imports. And here Ukraine is an important partner for the EU. As it is the only country that is located close, directly on the European continent, and is able to grow 6 million tons of soybeans, as it was in 2024.

“I would also like to note that soybeans are the only crop that all our neighbors had no complaints about during various trade disputes. Wheat, rapeseed, corn – all these products are included in the so-called lists where emergency suspension of autonomous trade preferences can be applied. But there have never been any import restrictions or export restrictions on soybeans. Because, once again, this is the only crop for which Ukraine has no questions, even from a populist political point of view. Except for the situation with Slovakia, but this is a special political case,” Pugachev said.

He noted that soybeans can be called a “European integration” crop, which “will allow Ukraine to join the reduction of the EU’s import dependence.”

Tags: EU, soybean, Ukraine