Sugar beet market Ukraine

Earlier Report Observations

The Ukrainian sugar beet market experienced significant volatility between 2018 and 2020. Production started at a high of 13 968 thousand tons in 2018, supported by government interventions including the setting of a minimum price for sugar beet and quotas for sugar supply. However, the market contracted to 10 205 thousand tons in 2019 as rising costs for seeds and agrochemicals increased cultivation expenses, compounded by a lack of new state subsidies. The decline continued to 9 150 thousand tons in 2020 due to a severe drought that reduced yields and a reduction in the number of operating sugar factories to 29.

A recovery began in 2021, with market volume rising to 10 854 thousand tons. This rebound was driven by a state-backed decision to increase sown areas by 20 thousand hectares and the reopening of processing plants, bringing the total to 33. The full-scale war in 2022 reversed this progress, causing the market to drop to 9 941 thousand tons as conflict led to lost territory, demined fields, and a decrease in operational factories to 23. Despite this, some agroholdings expanded their sown areas, and the industry saw new foreign investment with Pfeifer & Langen's acquisition of the Hnidava sugar plant.

In 2023, the market surged to 13 130 thousand tons, nearly matching the 2018 peak. This growth was achieved through a further approximate 5% expansion of sown areas and the operation of 30 sugar factories for the harvest. Continued state policy aimed at securing domestic sugar supply and attractive market prices encouraged farmers to increase cultivation, even as wartime disruptions persisted in regions like Kharkiv.

Production sugar beet Ukraine

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Ukraine held the 7th position globally in sugar beet production.

Top producers of sugar beet, 2017-2020

World map of production of sugar beet, 2017-2020

Ukraine's sugar beet production declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 9 150 K t of sugar beet, which is 10.3% lower than the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 38.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -15.0%.

Annual dynamics of production Ukraine in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports sugar beet to Ukraine

Exports in kind, kg

In 2020, Ukraine's sugar beet export volume was 4.00 kg, remaining largely unchanged from the year before. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports dropped by 60%, with a CAGR of -26.3%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 4.00 kg, while the largest decline occurred in 2018, with a 50.0% decrease.

Annual dynamics of product's exports to Ukraine in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, Germany was the primary partner for Ukraine's sugar beet exports in kind, representing 100.0% of the total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports to Ukraine in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, $ US

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 0.71 US dollars and peaked in 2020 at 7.10 US dollars, marking a tenfold increase. In 2020, the exported sugar beet volumes from Ukraine amounted to 7.10 US dollars, which is 776.5% higher than the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, with a 6.6% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's exports to Ukraine in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Over the 2017-2020 period, Ukraine's sugar beet exports in value terms were almost entirely directed to Germany, which accounted for 100.0% of the total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports to Ukraine in value, 2017-2020

Imports sugar beet in Ukraine

Market study data indicates that Ukraine did not import any sugar beet from 2017 to 2020.